For writing in the speculative fiction genre, I surely don’t read enough books in that category. 😂 Nadine Brandes snagged me with the premise of this book, and let me tell you, I could not put it down to save my life.
It’s been too long since I read a book like this.
I present to you . . .The Nightmare Virus.
The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes
Sci-fi/Portal Fantasy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Some viruses go after the body. But the Nightmare Virus goes after the mind. When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe, trapping people in a universal dreamscape. They call it the Nightmare Virus. Cain Cross is determined to find a cure . . . if he can decipher his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind. Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare—to change it by mere thought. Forced to navigate a world of nightbeasts, mistblades, and half-truths, Cain turns his focus to survival. When the Emperor offers him a LifeSuPod—and access to a cure—in exchange for a dangerous favor, Cain thinks he’s found a way out. But Cain’s new power threatens to take him on paths that jeopardize his very soul.
Will he continue searching for a cure, or will he swear allegiance to the Nightmare? And the bigger question might be . . . will he even have a choice?
What I Liked
The Story World
Oh . . . my goodness. The vividness of this world! Yes, I know, it’s a nightmare, but it’s totally a world in and of its own. And such a rich one it is too. Nadine absolutely nailed the descriptions. Just enough to completely immerse yourself one hundred percent without slowing the pacing and action. And speaking of—
The Action
This book never stopped. I mean, never. There’s barely enough time to catch your breath before the next wave of intensity hits. There’s battles, there’s fights, there’s running for your life. And, since this is very much based on ancient roman history, there are gladiator-type spars. And I loved it all.
The Characters
Cain Cross is highly relatable, in my opinion. His character arc was a roller coaster of a ride and boy was I hanging on for the entirety of it. He’s just . . . real. The struggles he wrestles with, the crossroads he faces. I’ll admit, I saw a lot of myself in Cain Cross.
Stranna: Oh, my dear girl. How one could be such a light and yet not know the power behind it might seem crazy, but it’s true. Because sometimes even the lighthouses are scared of the jagged cliffs they stand on.
I went back and forth on Crixus throughout the entire book (and I TOTALLY should have called that 😶) but he added such depth to the story. And yes. My heart goes out to him.
Luc . . . Yeah, I’m not even gonna say anything.
I wish we had more of Nole. cries
The Imagination
The entire concept of how this world exists and how it’s used is mind-blowing and beautiful. Creating things just by thinking about it—forming things from our emotions? It’s like living in a dream . . . oh, wait a minute. 😉
The Theme
This seems to be a common theme in Brandes books, but it’s one that I’ll read and reread and reread.
Light vs darkness.
The darkness might seem cool. It might have some neat tricks up its sleeves. But the Light always wins. Each and every time.
What I didn't Like
That this book is a standalone. 😐 ’Nough said.
Content Warnings:
So, as I stated this, book is very gladiator/Roman Empire-esque. And with that comes a fair amount of violence.
There’s a lot of death. Numerous people get stabbed, plenty of those incidents being through the head. There’s wounds, battles, and gladiator-style fights—AKA, to the death. But while the violence level is on the higher side, it’s never to the extent of being gory or grotesque.
Also, brief mentions of the possibility of people taking advantage of a sleeping girl, but not descriptive or detailed and would probably pass over the heads of younger readers.
There you have it, folks! I cannot sing this book’s praises enough. What a gorgeous journey. What masterful storytelling. 😍
If you have questions about The Nightmare Virus—or any other books I’ve reviewed or read—don’t hesitate to reach out! I love promoting clean fiction, and if I can help you find the right book for you, then I am at your disposal. bows low
Catch ya on the flip side!
_Mac 🤎
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