Cage of Dreams (City of Nightmares Duology, 2) by Rebecca Schaeffer
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0358645549
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

“Cage of Dreams” by Rebecca Schaeffer is the second and final book in the “City of Nightmares” YA fiction duology. The premise in “City of Nightmares” is that when people go to sleep and dream, they can turn into their worst fear, including monsters, giant insects, and other terrifying things. By the end of the first book the main character, Ness, has discovered that the Nightmare Phantom creating these nightmares in dreams is trapped in the dream realm, so she makes a deal and releases him. Now at the beginning of the second book, Ness is still terrified of the violence in this post-apocalyptic world and wants to make a deal with the  Nightmare Phantom to make her more powerful and less vulnerable. Things go wrong and chaos ensues.

The book is both scary and humorous with lots of little quips from Ness and the other characters. Themes of friendship, acceptance, fear, and strength are strong in the series and Ness comes to terms with who they are and how they fit with their friends and in this terrifying world in general. Written for teens and young adults, this is a recommended purchase where the first book is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.