The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes

By Leigh DeLozier (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads)

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This Christian dystopian/sci fi by Nadine Brandes has a compelling story that will stay with you long after you finish reading, from the memorable characters to the story itself.

Back cover copy:

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?

My review:

Every time I read a book by Nadine Brandes, I’m amazed at her gift for storytelling.

The Nightmare Virus has plots that are intricate and multilayered, but not so complicated that they lose you. The characters are flawed and funny and worth cheering for as they fight for the ones they believe in and love. The faith messages are clear, but so integral to the story that they aren’t preachy or forced.

The Nightmare Virus was all this and more. Brandes managed to combine fantasy, gladiator Rome, nerdy game love, mythological creatures, a dual world — and it absolutely worked and made sense.

I loved Cain’s determination to help others despite feeling so inadequate (and torn and confused — sound familiar?). I loved Stranna’s faith and how she showed it in her everyday life, whichever world she was in. And the children! I loved what a sweet set of characters they were and how they were sometimes the wisest ones around (as in real life!).

Themes like hope vs. desperation and light vs. darkness are common across multiple genres. Those are part of The Nightmare Virus, too, but I especially enjoyed the additional contrast of creation vs. destruction — creator and created, and how things can change based on what that creation stems from.

From a reading standpoint, The Nightmare Virus is full of beautiful turns of phrase and subtle points that made me stop and think. I was glued to every page and stayed up entirely too late every night reading (though it didn’t take many nights since I didn’t want to put it down). I don’t often reread books, but can see myself reading The Nightmare Virus again and enjoying it even more because of new things I’ll pick up on.

Bottom line

The Nightmare Virus is one of my favorite books of 2024. It’s categorized as young adult, but is layered and interesting enough to appeal to adults. Faith-related parts of the story are evident throughout, but none are preachy or come across as hard-sell religion. It’s a unique blend of fantasy, science fiction, and dystopian that I enjoyed. I would recommend it for teens or adults who enjoy a story in any of those genres that has depth and faith lessons that make you step back and consider things on a personal level and from a wider view. Just be warned: you might lose some sleep over The Nightmare Virus because you won’t want to put it down.

Plus: You might also want to read my review of Romanov or my review of Wishtress, two other great books by Nadine Brandes. (Can you tell I’m a fan?)

Cain Cross has learned to manipulate the Nightmare Virus that’s sweeping the globe. But in the process, the virus takes Cain on paths that jeopardize his very soul. #ChristianFiction #bookreview @nadinebrandes @enclavepublishing

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