The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
4/5 stars
Tor Teen, 2013
367 pages
YA Paranormal
Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I started this book ahead of schedule because the other book I was supposed to be reading was just not grabbing me. I was hoping this book would spur me into a reading frenzy and happily we really clicked and I found this book very enjoyable.
Dusty is a Nightmare, one of the many magical creatures hidden from our normal world. One night she sneaks into a house, ready to feed on the dreams of an ordinary boy as required by the magical Will only to a. see a horrible murder in his dream and b. accidentally awaken him. When that murder comes to pass, it turns out that she and the ordinary boy are meant to be partners, hopefully working to prevent any more murders or something even worse (like being expelled ;) from happening.
The element I really liked about this book was the humor. Nightmares are pretty uncommon and Dusty's mother is fairly reviled so she is not a popular girl but she has a sharp sense of humor (there are some great quotes to be read) and a supportive best friend. As you might expect there is romance with the ordinary boy Eli, complicated by a romantic interest from another boy, pushing us into love triangle or rather rectangle as there's another girl involved too. I found the romance very predictable but it doesn't play too big of a role.
Instead the focus is on the murder and the many mysteries of the magical world around it. Can Dusty trust anyone? I was pretty pleased with myself for calling a couple of plot points as I ordinarily am caught completely off-guard but I still missed out on who the big culprit was, a total surprise!
This is the start to what could be an intriguing series and this first book had a big job to do, laying out the characters and the basics of the fantastical world here. I think it did a good job and I would definitely be willing to return. For the next book, I want Dusty to be in even more danger and I would like more conflict with her parents, the subplot I found most compelling.
Other Opinions:
Beauty and the Bookshelf
Great Imaginations
Moonlight Reader
I love books that has great humor in it! I might as well read this one :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, I'm currently having a giveaway on my blog. You can check it out and join :) FOllower APpreciation GIVEAWAY!
I thought the humor was so good here-just the change of pace I needed!
DeleteI really enjoyed this one, it did give me a bit of a harry potter vibe with the magical school and all, I will definitely be reading the next book. Great review!
ReplyDeleteKristin @ Young Adult Book Haven
I definitely see the HP connection and I loved that this was set at a magic school-hope we'll get to see more of it in later books.
DeleteNow I wish I had requested this one. I often steer clear of books about dreams (and nightmares) because I feel about dreams in books the same way I do about flashbacks: :(
ReplyDeleteBut this sounds really fun!
Jen @ YA Romantics
The dreams are definitely presented in a different way from other books I've read and the overall feeling I got was one of fun. Maybe you'll be able to find it at your library?
DeleteHmm. This actually sounds fantastic! I like the way you said that the humor was great-- literally, I LOVE a book with good humor! It helps you get ahead in the world, LOL! Dusty sounds terrific, but the romance kinda sounds awful...LOL. Lovely review, girly! (:
ReplyDeleteLoves,
Megan@The Book Babe
The romance wasn't too my taste but I'm hoping future books develop it further. At least there were a lot of great quotes to get me through.
DeleteI like that little Harry Potter reference you included. ;)
ReplyDeleteI do want to read this one, as it sounds like a slightly unique premise. Always good. I'm glad it has some humor too and the romance isn't the main focus...I don't go into most books for the romance to be the main plot.
Thank you-I quote that an awful lot considering I'm not in school or anything and I was hoping someone might notice :)
DeleteThis sounds amazing. Great review. I can't wait to get this one. :)
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
Hope you like it too-I had so much fun reading it!
DeleteYou and other people who are posting reviews about this book have really got me intrigued. O Library, where art thou?
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it-it's definitely a starter book of a series but I think it has potential.
DeleteI read another review of this one and they liked it to for the sense of humor Dusty had. I have to pick this one up!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Dusty has such a great sense of humor-we definitely clicked!
DeleteI enjoyed this one a bit less than you, but I agree about Dusty. I loved her :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, just read your review and appreciated getting your thoughts. Am hoping the next book will develop all the characters a bit more.
DeleteLoved the humor of this one too! Dusty was lots of fun! The romance was predicable. Half the mystery was as well but the other bigger part of the mystery surprised me. I love books that take place in academies as well.
ReplyDeleteI adored Dusty so much-just hope future books delve deeper in to her.
DeleteThe murder mystery and humor make this sound interesting to me! I will have to check this out. Thanks for your review! It isn't a book I'd heard of before-at least I don't remember it. Too bad about the love "rectangle" but it sounds pretty promising otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThankfully the love stuff doesn't play too big of a role and is mostly resolved by the end, leaving room for more mystery and humor in the second book, hopefully!
DeleteThis sounds like a mix of fantasy and mystery, two of my favorite things! I was just passing over this book anytime it was mentioned but now I want to read it. Great review! ^_^
ReplyDelete