Can Brandon Sanderson write good romance? I was hesitant at first, but then I thought of Vin and Elend from the Mistborn series and became quite hopeful. Having now finished Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, a standalone Cosmere story, I think he should actually focus more on stories that don’t rely on action and politics and instead develop intricate worlds and character interactions - especially romantic ones.

In the book we follow Yumi and Painter. Yumi is a priestess who practices the art of stacking stones to summon spirits that help people prosper in the hot land. Her life is filled with detailed rituals and strict structure. Then there’s Painter. He lives in a dark and hectic city where so-called heon lines power advanced technology. At night Painter roams the streets and neutralizes any nightmares by painting them into something harmless. These two very opposite environments collide when Yumi and Painter start waking up in the other person’s world. They need to educate each other on their customs and professions while figuring out why the spirits have brought them together.

The way Yumi and Painter’s relationship develops is beautiful to follow. I might have wished for more intimate scenes had the slow burn not been so excellent. The world building is excellent as well, but it’s hard to describe the settings as Branderson once again creates such imaginative ecosystems and societies that only he can properly put them to words.

During the last hundred pages I cried and laughed and sighed. And wanted to start all over again. AND, wanted to give The Stormlight Archieves another chance. Sanderson’s main series is one I find incredibly intimidating, but it would give so much context to his other stories, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter included. Perhaps after I’m finished with Robin Hobb…