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Nightmare City #1
Nightmare City
In post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, dreams come true. So do nightmares.
Ever since a shift in reality twenty years ago, peoples' dreams and nightmares come alive, spreading chaos and destruction. Monsters ravage cities, bottomless chasms split roads, and gold rains from the sky - the possibilities are limitless, unpredictable and often deadly.
Eden Maybrey is a hunter of these "shades". When a friend tasks her with tracking down and eliminating an evil shade, the hunt threatens to expose Eden's deepest, darkest secret. To find her prey, she is forced to team up with Vaughn Taylor, a hunter who hates shades with a passion - and who won't hesitate to put a bullet in Eden's head should he figure out the truth.
Book 1 in a new urban fantasy series with a twist: no vamps or weres - instead, dreams and nightmares coming alive.
Would you really want your dreams to come true?
Ever since a shift in reality twenty years ago, peoples' dreams and nightmares come alive, spreading chaos and destruction. Monsters ravage cities, bottomless chasms split roads, and gold rains from the sky - the possibilities are limitless, unpredictable and often deadly.
Eden Maybrey is a hunter of these "shades". When a friend tasks her with tracking down and eliminating an evil shade, the hunt threatens to expose Eden's deepest, darkest secret. To find her prey, she is forced to team up with Vaughn Taylor, a hunter who hates shades with a passion - and who won't hesitate to put a bullet in Eden's head should he figure out the truth.
Book 1 in a new urban fantasy series with a twist: no vamps or weres - instead, dreams and nightmares coming alive.
Would you really want your dreams to come true?
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2019
55 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
P.S. Newman
4 books15 followersHi there, I’m Pia - a remote content manager/creator and translator by day, and writer of Urban Fantasy (and sometimes Romance) by night.
Pre-pandemic, I did all this while traveling the world as a digital nomad. Post-pandemic... well, we’re not quite there, yet, so I guess we’ll see. For now, I’ll focus on writing books.
Which, I hope, will also grant readers some diversion. Check out Nightmare City if you enjoy a good urban fantasy about dreams - and nightmares - literally coming true.
Cheers for now!
Pia
Pre-pandemic, I did all this while traveling the world as a digital nomad. Post-pandemic... well, we’re not quite there, yet, so I guess we’ll see. For now, I’ll focus on writing books.
Which, I hope, will also grant readers some diversion. Check out Nightmare City if you enjoy a good urban fantasy about dreams - and nightmares - literally coming true.
Cheers for now!
Pia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 25, 2020
Nightmare City is a promising start to the series of the same name. Where your nightmares and dreams can become realty. Eden is a shade hunter who hunts these shades that can manifest from them. She hunts them with her talking sword. At first that seemed really odd, but strangely it works. Compelling characters and a super unique storyline that pulled me in more and more with each page. I am looking forward to more shade hunting!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
December 26, 2019
I received a copy of Nightmare City by P.S. Newman from #NetGalley for an honest review.
Review also at https://theundeadreader.blogspot.com/
An event happens in Los Angeles that changes reality drastically. Everyone that dreams or has nightmares, has them come true. Eden Maybrey is a hunter of the "shades" that people dream of. She has the ability to find and capture the creatures that become real from people's nightmares. This is Maybrey's story of how she started hunting shades and the inner turmoil from hunting these creatures. Her actions and her past come to a head in Nightmare City.
This is a nice change in the regular sci-fi genre that I usually read. For one, the lead character already knows her past. Second, there are no specific creatures that are evil. The evil is from peoples dreams and nightmares.
From the very start of the book, I was hooked. The writing is well paced, I cared for the characters, and I did read nonstop for hours. Newman has a vivid imagination and it shows with the details in Nightmare City.
Review also at https://theundeadreader.blogspot.com/
An event happens in Los Angeles that changes reality drastically. Everyone that dreams or has nightmares, has them come true. Eden Maybrey is a hunter of the "shades" that people dream of. She has the ability to find and capture the creatures that become real from people's nightmares. This is Maybrey's story of how she started hunting shades and the inner turmoil from hunting these creatures. Her actions and her past come to a head in Nightmare City.
This is a nice change in the regular sci-fi genre that I usually read. For one, the lead character already knows her past. Second, there are no specific creatures that are evil. The evil is from peoples dreams and nightmares.
From the very start of the book, I was hooked. The writing is well paced, I cared for the characters, and I did read nonstop for hours. Newman has a vivid imagination and it shows with the details in Nightmare City.
May 3, 2020
First I want to thank NetGalley and P.S.Newman for giving me access to this book.
Sadly this book did not made it for me. I was immediately hooked by the premise, but as my expectations were so high this one couldn't make it. The whole doppleganger thing wasn't for me at all, and it was really really easy to predict, witch took me completely out of the story. I couldn't connect with the main character, Eden, for most of the time. Eventhough I still think that her characters did have a great characterization overall and that it's probably just a personal issue.. My favorite thing though was the writting style,very rich and really easy to follow.
Sadly this book did not made it for me. I was immediately hooked by the premise, but as my expectations were so high this one couldn't make it. The whole doppleganger thing wasn't for me at all, and it was really really easy to predict, witch took me completely out of the story. I couldn't connect with the main character, Eden, for most of the time. Eventhough I still think that her characters did have a great characterization overall and that it's probably just a personal issue.. My favorite thing though was the writting style,very rich and really easy to follow.
April 18, 2020
Have you ever had a dream so real that you wanted it to be true or be reality when you woke up? This book takes this idea to a whole new level! I think the idea and story line is very exciting and Eden Maybrey is a badass. I can see this book/series be a great movie or TV show. I think it would be great. I can't wait to read book 2. Thank you for the great book while this world is crazy I can escape into such a rich full adventure as this book and be excited to start reading more like it. This book does have strong language in parts for some of you that don't like those words in a book, you shouldn't read it. I think the book is great and I am hooked already on the series. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
January 12, 2022
Nightmare City is a fast paced, super unique and exciting read with lively characters and danger at every corner!
I can't wait to read what happens next!
Thank you to the author and VRO for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
I can't wait to read what happens next!
Thank you to the author and VRO for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
November 27, 2019
It's rare to have urban fantasy with any original ideas. After all, the genre has been around for decades now. Vampires, shifters, fae...they've all taken their stroll through the pages of many an urban fantasy. Nightmares may be a more unique take. I can only think of one other, Night Terrors by Tim Waggoner. In Night Terrors, the nightmares are allowed to exist as long as they behave, though they are enforced by a paranormal agency made up of dream creatures and their dreamer creators. Nightmare City, however, has a very different take.
After an event called The Surge, suddenly dreamers were finding that their dreams and nightmares manifested in the real world. Chaos and destruction reigned until civilization learned to deal with the shades they created. They founded the Somni Order, an organization established to find ways to police and cope with the constant threat of their nightmares made real.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
After an event called The Surge, suddenly dreamers were finding that their dreams and nightmares manifested in the real world. Chaos and destruction reigned until civilization learned to deal with the shades they created. They founded the Somni Order, an organization established to find ways to police and cope with the constant threat of their nightmares made real.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
April 7, 2024
This book was written by a dear friend of mine so it’s hard to not be biased. The storyline was intriguing, compelling and faultless. The concept of dreams/nightmares materialising into shades was fascinating (especially for someone who has vivid dreams on a nightly basis!), and the whole fantasy and laws surrounding this all fit together nicely. The book is clearly aimed at a younger reader (early teens), one tell-tale sign is the euphemisms for swear words, so although I enjoyed reading it, it wouldn’t be my usual go to.
The characters are well developed and portrayed. Most have a ‘cross to bear’ which are revealed early on making it easy to relate to and sympathise with each character respectively. The setting was nothing particularly special; urban LA.
Well-written; good job Pia! And the ending had a great twist, which I love, it certainly was a page turner more and more so towards the end.
The characters are well developed and portrayed. Most have a ‘cross to bear’ which are revealed early on making it easy to relate to and sympathise with each character respectively. The setting was nothing particularly special; urban LA.
Well-written; good job Pia! And the ending had a great twist, which I love, it certainly was a page turner more and more so towards the end.
November 6, 2020
Cover ⭐⭐
World ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narrator ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters ⭐⭐⭐
Villain ⭐⭐⭐
Story ⭐⭐⭐
Ending ⭐⭐
Overall: 3 stars
First off, the concept for the world is unbelievable, I loved it. Absolutely love the idea of a world where nightmares and dreams are able to manifest into reality - fantastic! But it loses an entire star for deliberately excluding vampires and werewolves. Why? This makes no sense to me and it ties in with other issues I had with this book. My suspension of disbelief was hard with this one, so I may as well start there..
Lucid dreaming is 'illegal' in this world, but there's absolutely no way of policing or enforcing it. For a system that relies purely on the dreamer's honesty and cooperation, I struggle to believe that a tonne of people weren't manifesting their dream spouses, house, car, money etc. Aside from the obvious monsters and whatnot, there would be no way to tell if say, a child had manifested a family dog, as the book gives absolutely no indication of any monitoring system being in place at all.
This could have been easily worked around, just by mentioning some type of futuristic tech that can detect when a dream manifests.. also by saying the government was drugging the public, so to try and prevent them gaining lucidity while dreaming or to help prevent dreams altogether..
It's just a big thing for me to ignore..
Also the fact as mentioned, that the book banned vamps and weres.. seems really strange to me. There would be people dreaming of vampires and werewolves all the time. If it was an attempt at being more original, I have to say I was extremely disappointed on that front as well..
The shades were all so generic to me personally. There were a few that seemed more exciting and imaginative, but were only used as passing side notes and never actually shown or hunted. The people of this city have quite boring nightmares to be honest, and they're apparently not even dreaming of vamps, in this instance they could have actually spiced things up a bit.
And I'm sorry but there would have been superhero shades popping up all over the place. Or better yet, the government should have been actively encouraging and influencing people to dream about such things, to help them battle the war and all.. I refuse to believe that was the first shade hero.
Moving on..
This book uses a major plot twist from one of the most popular movies of all time Don't get me wrong, I love that plot twist, and I'm sure it's been done many times and probably even before that movie.. but I noticed it.
Eden has a good voice and I enjoyed her POV. I thought her identity and how she came to be was spot on, love the comic book aspect and her special power as well. She is a strong protagonist so she was really in need of some equally strong supporting characters. However, aside from Aunt Vy, none of the others were up to par.
I loved the politics and Taylor was a great opposing force to the moral argument about benevolent shades having the right to live. He was a decent character but I feel more could have been done with him. (I really loved the SHAID organisation.)
All the rest were unmemorable and Bella was just downright painful. I cringed every time she was in a scene or was even spoken of. She would have been acceptable had she been written as the age she sounds - 12 - definitely not 17.
I didn't feel anything at the end. The book spends so much time emphasizing how much this family means to Eden, and I believe it, I believe she loved them and cared what may happened to them - but I didn't.
This is a decent book with great ideas and absolutely ample potential but unfortunately the execution wasn't for me.
*Free e-copy received from NetGalley
World ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Narrator ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters ⭐⭐⭐
Villain ⭐⭐⭐
Story ⭐⭐⭐
Ending ⭐⭐
Overall: 3 stars
First off, the concept for the world is unbelievable, I loved it. Absolutely love the idea of a world where nightmares and dreams are able to manifest into reality - fantastic! But it loses an entire star for deliberately excluding vampires and werewolves. Why? This makes no sense to me and it ties in with other issues I had with this book. My suspension of disbelief was hard with this one, so I may as well start there..
Lucid dreaming is 'illegal' in this world, but there's absolutely no way of policing or enforcing it. For a system that relies purely on the dreamer's honesty and cooperation, I struggle to believe that a tonne of people weren't manifesting their dream spouses, house, car, money etc. Aside from the obvious monsters and whatnot, there would be no way to tell if say, a child had manifested a family dog, as the book gives absolutely no indication of any monitoring system being in place at all.
This could have been easily worked around, just by mentioning some type of futuristic tech that can detect when a dream manifests.. also by saying the government was drugging the public, so to try and prevent them gaining lucidity while dreaming or to help prevent dreams altogether..
It's just a big thing for me to ignore..
Also the fact as mentioned, that the book banned vamps and weres.. seems really strange to me. There would be people dreaming of vampires and werewolves all the time. If it was an attempt at being more original, I have to say I was extremely disappointed on that front as well..
The shades were all so generic to me personally. There were a few that seemed more exciting and imaginative, but were only used as passing side notes and never actually shown or hunted. The people of this city have quite boring nightmares to be honest, and they're apparently not even dreaming of vamps, in this instance they could have actually spiced things up a bit.
And I'm sorry but there would have been superhero shades popping up all over the place. Or better yet, the government should have been actively encouraging and influencing people to dream about such things, to help them battle the war and all.. I refuse to believe that was the first shade hero.
Moving on..
This book uses a major plot twist from one of the most popular movies of all time Don't get me wrong, I love that plot twist, and I'm sure it's been done many times and probably even before that movie.. but I noticed it.
Eden has a good voice and I enjoyed her POV. I thought her identity and how she came to be was spot on, love the comic book aspect and her special power as well. She is a strong protagonist so she was really in need of some equally strong supporting characters. However, aside from Aunt Vy, none of the others were up to par.
I loved the politics and Taylor was a great opposing force to the moral argument about benevolent shades having the right to live. He was a decent character but I feel more could have been done with him. (I really loved the SHAID organisation.)
All the rest were unmemorable and Bella was just downright painful. I cringed every time she was in a scene or was even spoken of. She would have been acceptable had she been written as the age she sounds - 12 - definitely not 17.
I didn't feel anything at the end. The book spends so much time emphasizing how much this family means to Eden, and I believe it, I believe she loved them and cared what may happened to them - but I didn't.
This is a decent book with great ideas and absolutely ample potential but unfortunately the execution wasn't for me.
*Free e-copy received from NetGalley
May 22, 2020
I could not resist this one! The concept is so cool! It fell on the back-burner for a while, but I am so glad I was able to finallllyyyyy get into this one.
The story is set in LA after a terrible event happened years previously. Dreams AND nightmares can come true LITERALLY. It's unpredictable and can be deadly. They call these manifestations "shades". We follow Eden who is a hunter of these shades and is tasked to get rid of them. There are many other hunters out there, but there is something different about our Eden and she cannot let the world know what it is. When a friend manifests a shade, he hires Eden to take care of it, because it is dangerous. So dangerous it puts Eden and everyone she loves at risk. She is forced to team up with Vaughn Taylor is who is anti-shade that even fellow hunters worry about him.
Loved Eden. She was kickass!
Loved Cece too. She was kickass.
Aunt Vy the sword was a hoot and she was certainly a fun "character".
Sean was fishy to me.
Loved David. He was so sweet to Cece and her baby sister.
Bella.....hate you. Hate you, hate you, hate you. I get you are a teenager who really went through some stuff. But you are manipulative and terrible. Someone needs to kick her ass. Maybe Eden will one day. But seriously Bella...get your head out of your arse.
Besides for my loathing for that snot-nose kid, I really enjoyed this. I could NOT read this fast enough especially near the end. THAT TWIST! I guessed it, but I thought I was just being a negative nancy and cynical, but OMG. Danggg I need book 2 now!!!!!!
Okay - okay. Overall...this was awesome and fun. I highly recommend it. 5 stars.
The story is set in LA after a terrible event happened years previously. Dreams AND nightmares can come true LITERALLY. It's unpredictable and can be deadly. They call these manifestations "shades". We follow Eden who is a hunter of these shades and is tasked to get rid of them. There are many other hunters out there, but there is something different about our Eden and she cannot let the world know what it is. When a friend manifests a shade, he hires Eden to take care of it, because it is dangerous. So dangerous it puts Eden and everyone she loves at risk. She is forced to team up with Vaughn Taylor is who is anti-shade that even fellow hunters worry about him.
Loved Eden. She was kickass!
Loved Cece too. She was kickass.
Aunt Vy the sword was a hoot and she was certainly a fun "character".
Sean was fishy to me.
Loved David. He was so sweet to Cece and her baby sister.
Bella.....hate you. Hate you, hate you, hate you. I get you are a teenager who really went through some stuff. But you are manipulative and terrible. Someone needs to kick her ass. Maybe Eden will one day. But seriously Bella...get your head out of your arse.
Besides for my loathing for that snot-nose kid, I really enjoyed this. I could NOT read this fast enough especially near the end. THAT TWIST! I guessed it, but I thought I was just being a negative nancy and cynical, but OMG. Danggg I need book 2 now!!!!!!
Okay - okay. Overall...this was awesome and fun. I highly recommend it. 5 stars.
July 20, 2021
A clearly fresh original twist on urban fantasy if ever I did read one. What could you possibly dream about that could become real?
The whole twist of living out your nightmares, and sometimes dreams becomes more real in this story, and I love the impact it gives to this plot. We are not really given any idea why the surge has happened or what caused it. Simply that shades have started to appear, and society as a whole has tried to manage the issue. Previous reviews have picked up on the problematic characters but I think the author has got them dead on. As the characters in the action are comic book characters they are going to be exactly that. They jump from one world into another completely from the one they have inhabited. Yet the author has given these shades room to evolve and that can be seen in Eden quite clearly as she steers falling into the same cliche storyline from her comic book.
There are some good twists to the book and it never stays stagnant. The storyline itself did pull some heart strings and I think a good book should take you along a journey. Book 2 should be deeply interesting as Eden as a character is now clearly evolving past her comic book persona.
In conclusion a good read that kept me glued to the book. The book was strong on its originality and focus on comic book heroes in a real world. The characters were well fleshed out and although not deeply written have clearly grown in the book. This has scored a 9 out ten stars in my opinion. I received this book from the author via Voracious Readers only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review.
The whole twist of living out your nightmares, and sometimes dreams becomes more real in this story, and I love the impact it gives to this plot. We are not really given any idea why the surge has happened or what caused it. Simply that shades have started to appear, and society as a whole has tried to manage the issue. Previous reviews have picked up on the problematic characters but I think the author has got them dead on. As the characters in the action are comic book characters they are going to be exactly that. They jump from one world into another completely from the one they have inhabited. Yet the author has given these shades room to evolve and that can be seen in Eden quite clearly as she steers falling into the same cliche storyline from her comic book.
There are some good twists to the book and it never stays stagnant. The storyline itself did pull some heart strings and I think a good book should take you along a journey. Book 2 should be deeply interesting as Eden as a character is now clearly evolving past her comic book persona.
In conclusion a good read that kept me glued to the book. The book was strong on its originality and focus on comic book heroes in a real world. The characters were well fleshed out and although not deeply written have clearly grown in the book. This has scored a 9 out ten stars in my opinion. I received this book from the author via Voracious Readers only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review.
August 3, 2020
Around 300 BCE Master Zhuang wrote: "Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man". Such is the nature of reality, and such is the nature of dreams.
The digital nomad, Pia Newman, writing as P.S. Newman, tells of an alternate world. Here the apocalypse has happened. A shift/tear in the cosmos occurred giving humans the ability to transform dreams into reality. In an ideal world, lucid dreamers could create paradises. This is not the case in Los Angeles, where monsters roam and lava pools engulf the freeways. A new branch of law enforcement was created to destroy the 'shades'. In addition to the LEO's, independent operatives aka freelancers collaborate to help end the chaos.
Eden is a freelancer. She lives to protect her loved ones. Bella, Cecelia and even David are all important to her. She has been tasked with taking down a doppelganger, an evil version of David's brother. Unfortunately for her, the city has assigned one of their hunters as her unwilling partner.
Sargent Vaughn Taylor, one of the best around truly hates the shades. Will this be an end game problem for Eden? And if so, why?
Great humor along with cinematic action scenes with a cliff hanging ending leaves the reader clamoring for more. The well thought out universe can go in many directions, I look forward to seeing what is in store for Eden.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC copy from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.
The digital nomad, Pia Newman, writing as P.S. Newman, tells of an alternate world. Here the apocalypse has happened. A shift/tear in the cosmos occurred giving humans the ability to transform dreams into reality. In an ideal world, lucid dreamers could create paradises. This is not the case in Los Angeles, where monsters roam and lava pools engulf the freeways. A new branch of law enforcement was created to destroy the 'shades'. In addition to the LEO's, independent operatives aka freelancers collaborate to help end the chaos.
Eden is a freelancer. She lives to protect her loved ones. Bella, Cecelia and even David are all important to her. She has been tasked with taking down a doppelganger, an evil version of David's brother. Unfortunately for her, the city has assigned one of their hunters as her unwilling partner.
Sargent Vaughn Taylor, one of the best around truly hates the shades. Will this be an end game problem for Eden? And if so, why?
Great humor along with cinematic action scenes with a cliff hanging ending leaves the reader clamoring for more. The well thought out universe can go in many directions, I look forward to seeing what is in store for Eden.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC copy from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.
June 26, 2020
What if your dreams really did come true? What if the same thing happened to your nightmares? When you wake up, you discover that the monster that was chasing you in your nightmare has now been turned loose on the city and is wreaking havoc on it. This urban fantasy takes a different twist. Instead of werewolves and vampires and such, dreams and nightmares become reality. However, this is not a good thing, and these ‘creations’ are known as shades.
Eden’s job, along with a group called The Order, is to eliminate these shades from existence. Eden, along with Aunt V, will definitely hold your attention as she goes about performing her duties. The characters are well written, and you will find yourself invested in what happens to them. I loved this book, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Eden’s job, along with a group called The Order, is to eliminate these shades from existence. Eden, along with Aunt V, will definitely hold your attention as she goes about performing her duties. The characters are well written, and you will find yourself invested in what happens to them. I loved this book, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
August 3, 2021
I received a free copy of this book to read and review so here goes
Firstly it was written in a narrative form that I do not like. First person narratives for me limit my interaction with the other characters. Secondly it periodically switched POV to a secondary character again something that I find annoying.
The overall story line was interesting, set in the future where people can manifest people and creatures from their dreams. These manifestations are called shades and the more normal ones can easily be mistaken for real people/animals but are ruthlessly hunted down and destroyed
The main character Eden is one such shade, dreamed up by a young girl called Bella. Eden is a shade hunter who with the help of a talking sword dispatches dangerous shades while attempting to hide her shade status from the authorities.
I wish that I could say that I really enjoyed this book but unfortunately I did not. I could just not make a connection with any of the characters.
Would I recommend it to others, yes if they are willing to give a new series a go
Firstly it was written in a narrative form that I do not like. First person narratives for me limit my interaction with the other characters. Secondly it periodically switched POV to a secondary character again something that I find annoying.
The overall story line was interesting, set in the future where people can manifest people and creatures from their dreams. These manifestations are called shades and the more normal ones can easily be mistaken for real people/animals but are ruthlessly hunted down and destroyed
The main character Eden is one such shade, dreamed up by a young girl called Bella. Eden is a shade hunter who with the help of a talking sword dispatches dangerous shades while attempting to hide her shade status from the authorities.
I wish that I could say that I really enjoyed this book but unfortunately I did not. I could just not make a connection with any of the characters.
Would I recommend it to others, yes if they are willing to give a new series a go
March 9, 2022
*I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only and P.S. Newman in exchange for an honest review.*
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting and the story hooked me from the beginning. The book is past-paced and action-packed.
Eden being both a shade and a shade hunter played well throughout the book. It also created interesting dynamics with the other characters.
The relationships between the characters was my favorite part of the book. They were diverse but all connected in various ways. It showed community and live between several characters but also showed some of the darker human connections and emotions through others.
I want to see where the relationship between Eden and Taylor goes.
My biggest critique would be that there was not enough history about The Surge. It is mentioned in passing as a historical event that changed everything, but I wanted to know more about it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting and the story hooked me from the beginning. The book is past-paced and action-packed.
Eden being both a shade and a shade hunter played well throughout the book. It also created interesting dynamics with the other characters.
The relationships between the characters was my favorite part of the book. They were diverse but all connected in various ways. It showed community and live between several characters but also showed some of the darker human connections and emotions through others.
I want to see where the relationship between Eden and Taylor goes.
My biggest critique would be that there was not enough history about The Surge. It is mentioned in passing as a historical event that changed everything, but I wanted to know more about it.
January 31, 2021
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
The cover of this book caught my eye first, the idea of nightmares coming into the world while you sleep and becoming part of reality seemed like a really interesting idea and convinced me that I wanted to give this book a go.
Eden is a Shade hunter, hunting down and destroying creatures created from nightmares.
I really liked this story, it pulled me in from the beginning and even though the first two creatures didn’t really feel like nightmares they were enough to intrigue me and I found myself turning page after page racing towards the end of the book to find out what would happen.
While there were some sad moments, I really liked the characters and the world they lived in.
I enjoyed the story and I really hope there are more to this series because I would really like to read them.
The cover of this book caught my eye first, the idea of nightmares coming into the world while you sleep and becoming part of reality seemed like a really interesting idea and convinced me that I wanted to give this book a go.
Eden is a Shade hunter, hunting down and destroying creatures created from nightmares.
I really liked this story, it pulled me in from the beginning and even though the first two creatures didn’t really feel like nightmares they were enough to intrigue me and I found myself turning page after page racing towards the end of the book to find out what would happen.
While there were some sad moments, I really liked the characters and the world they lived in.
I enjoyed the story and I really hope there are more to this series because I would really like to read them.
June 20, 2021
I received a reading copy for an honest review.
The synopsis gives a good description of what the book is about. The author's website gives you a novella of the back story, which makes a lot clear from the beginning.
The writing style is interesting and it is fun to read the book. The plot is good, the world building exceptional and the characters are excellent in their descriptions. All in all, a recommendable book. If there wasn't one but: I didn't like the ending at all.
Because of the ending, which is not a cliff-hanger, I give 4 stars as it actually compromised me emotionally. That kind of ending is not for me. However, if there is a 2nd installment in the series, I will read it and hope it will have a better ending.
The synopsis gives a good description of what the book is about. The author's website gives you a novella of the back story, which makes a lot clear from the beginning.
The writing style is interesting and it is fun to read the book. The plot is good, the world building exceptional and the characters are excellent in their descriptions. All in all, a recommendable book. If there wasn't one but: I didn't like the ending at all.
Because of the ending, which is not a cliff-hanger, I give 4 stars as it actually compromised me emotionally. That kind of ending is not for me. However, if there is a 2nd installment in the series, I will read it and hope it will have a better ending.
June 28, 2021
Nightmare City is a fantastic, page turner of a story. It features unique, memorable characters and it feels like there are further depths to explore with each of them without any feeling drastically incomplete.
I have a soft spot for urban fantasy with a sense of humour and Nightmare City is no exception. Got to love a snarky main character! Newman cleverly reveals another layer of world building here, character development there or plot twist ahead, all designed to capture the reader’s imagination. While the book does come to a (mostly satisfying) conclusion, I’m more than ready for a sequel!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Voracious Readers in return for an unbiased review. Thank you!
I have a soft spot for urban fantasy with a sense of humour and Nightmare City is no exception. Got to love a snarky main character! Newman cleverly reveals another layer of world building here, character development there or plot twist ahead, all designed to capture the reader’s imagination. While the book does come to a (mostly satisfying) conclusion, I’m more than ready for a sequel!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Voracious Readers in return for an unbiased review. Thank you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
***I received a free copy from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review***
Nightmare City is the first book in an urban fantasy series, and is also the first book by my new favourite author. I really hope this is a long, long series!
I am a big fan of urban fantasy. This reminds me of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, but it is also very unique. The plot is exciting and new: your dreams and your nightmares come true and will rampage about until Eden puts them down. It was fun and fast paced, and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Really looking forward to more!
Nightmare City is the first book in an urban fantasy series, and is also the first book by my new favourite author. I really hope this is a long, long series!
I am a big fan of urban fantasy. This reminds me of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, but it is also very unique. The plot is exciting and new: your dreams and your nightmares come true and will rampage about until Eden puts them down. It was fun and fast paced, and I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Really looking forward to more!
October 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this story. I don’t often like post-apocalypse stories but this had an interesting twist where nightmares come to life. I really enjoyed the character development and the storyline. I found myself rooting for Eden and avidly awaiting the next chaos around the corner. This book delivered on so many levels. I found the writing style enjoyable. Not overly descriptive nor simple. I enjoyed all the characters even the antagonist was relatable. This was good reading and I would recommend it for those that like the merging of fantasy and contemporary urban fiction. I was given a complimentary copy to read through Voracious Readers.
October 27, 2021
I loved Nightmare City! What a great concept - and the early twist was unexpected but perfectly timed. The characters were compelling and fun, with plenty of development throughout. The book was fast-paced with lots of action, which was well-described and exciting, and I really could imagine what this dystopian LA was like. I thought the relationship between the main character and her sentient side-kick was particularly good, with plenty of witty conversation and funny comments, but also emotional depth and connection. I look forward to reading future books in the series!
*I received an ARC via Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review
*I received an ARC via Voracious Readers Only in return for an honest review
September 20, 2020
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book brings a unique premise to urban fantasy that is fresh and welcomed. There are some parts that could have been better developed and the ending felt rushed but overall a really good book.
I define a good book as one that captures your attention and allows you to forget and escape into a good story. Nightmare City did that for me and I can't wait until the next book.
This book brings a unique premise to urban fantasy that is fresh and welcomed. There are some parts that could have been better developed and the ending felt rushed but overall a really good book.
I define a good book as one that captures your attention and allows you to forget and escape into a good story. Nightmare City did that for me and I can't wait until the next book.
March 6, 2022
Disclaimer: copy received free from Voracious Readers Only
Wow this was a captivating read. The plot was super tight, well-written and the characters were great. In a world where nightmares come to life I was expecting something much more simple in terms of the monsters that were going to be fought. But what I got was an incredibly satisfying story that questions the assumptions people make about these creations. Remember, not all monsters have to be dreamt up.
Wow this was a captivating read. The plot was super tight, well-written and the characters were great. In a world where nightmares come to life I was expecting something much more simple in terms of the monsters that were going to be fought. But what I got was an incredibly satisfying story that questions the assumptions people make about these creations. Remember, not all monsters have to be dreamt up.
June 2, 2020
Author# P.S. Newman has a exciting series out with book #1 Nightmare City.Takes place in L.A. after the “Surge”.Eden is our main character in this series and has sword she can communicate with.This is a new world where your nightmares can become reality.The bonus is it’s a series.
Thank you,
#Netgalley,#P.S. Newman And #BooksGoSocial
Thank you,
#Netgalley,#P.S. Newman And #BooksGoSocial
January 4, 2021
Finally, something different
It was so refreshing to read a great supernatural novel without witches or vampires or werewolves for a change. Totally unique, suspenseful, well written, with complex characters I cared about, it was hard to put down. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
It was so refreshing to read a great supernatural novel without witches or vampires or werewolves for a change. Totally unique, suspenseful, well written, with complex characters I cared about, it was hard to put down. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
January 5, 2021
Excellent!
Rarely do you find a book (or series)with a totally unique premise: what if your nightmares came to life? I couldn’t stop reading this story. The characters are so human, strong and vulnerable, even the ones who might not be quite human at all. Going to put volume 2 on my wish list right now!
Rarely do you find a book (or series)with a totally unique premise: what if your nightmares came to life? I couldn’t stop reading this story. The characters are so human, strong and vulnerable, even the ones who might not be quite human at all. Going to put volume 2 on my wish list right now!
May 3, 2021
I received a complimentary copy of the book through vivacious reads from the author.
It was great to have a new premise for a fantasy series.
This is so much better than ghosts, dreams and nightmares can feel so real so why not make them so!
This story has me hooked can't wait to read the next one.
It was great to have a new premise for a fantasy series.
This is so much better than ghosts, dreams and nightmares can feel so real so why not make them so!
This story has me hooked can't wait to read the next one.
Read
August 30, 2021Got my free copy from the author through Voracious Readers. I'm a horror fanatic, and found this far too fantasy action for my tastes. Seemed well written as far as I could go with it, so if you love Dark Fantasy, shapeshifting, swordplay and the like, this is the book for you, give it a go for sure!
September 17, 2021
I was given this book to review via Voracious Readers Only.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I thought it would have a predictable ending but it didn’t at all. It was a story about dreams/nightmares becoming real and the hunters who stopped the ‘shades’. I’m hoping there will be follow on books.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I thought it would have a predictable ending but it didn’t at all. It was a story about dreams/nightmares becoming real and the hunters who stopped the ‘shades’. I’m hoping there will be follow on books.
January 25, 2022
Surprisingly entertaining, when I first saw the concept I was dubious but it turned out to be a fantastic idea, the book feels unfinished so I hope we can see more of Eden and Co in more installments. I really enjoyed the idea of dreams coming to life and feel that it could have been explored a bit more with some extra character development. Overall enjoyable read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2023
I received a complimentary copy of the book and am giving my honest review. I very much enjoyed the story and the world that has been created. I'm curious how something like this would come about so I'm not sure if there is an existing book of the Surge. There is a lot of character development and the moment you think you know what's going on the plot will twist and it becomes all the better.
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