Cage of Dreams

Written by Rebecca Schaeffer

Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

In this thrilling sequel and conclusion to the City of Nightmares duology, which has been praised as ""so much fun readers will stay up all night to finish it"" (Kirkus, starred review), Ness is forced to make a twisted deal with the Nightmare Phantom—only to find herself embroiled in the explosive fallout of the agreement when a botched assassination attempt unleashes chaos into the City of Newham.

Nineteen-year-old Ness used to have a vehement terror of Nightmares—people who’d been turned into their worst fears while they slept. Through two assassination attempts, an explosion, and a faustian bargain with a dream demon, she’s finally working through those fears.

Unfortunately, Nightmares aren’t the only dangerous thing in Newham. Working at a speakeasy where gunfights are common and death is a regular occurrence, Ness is forced to reckon with all her other fears—including her fear of mortality. It’s easy to die in Newham, but it’s hard to live.

So when the Nightmare Phantom—the monster that turns people into Nightmares—shows up, asking her another favor, she agrees, but only if he turns her into a Nightmare. One of her own choosing, something bullet proof and strong and able to live without fear.

But when Ness’s attempt to fulfill the bargain goes wrong, things start to spiral out of control. Now, Ness is in the crosshairs of enemies old and new, and this time, she can’t run from her problems. If she wants to survive, she’s going to have to conquer the most difficult enemy of all: herself

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063340275

Rebecca Schaeffer

Rebecca Schaeffer is the critically acclaimed author of Not Even Bones, Only Ashes Remain, and When Villains Rise. The Webtoon adaptation of the trilogy has garnered over a hundred million reads and nearly 2 million subscribers. Her next book, Cage of Dreams, comes out in 2023.   rschaefferbooks.com Twitter: @rrschaeffer. Instagram: @rebecca_schaeffer

Reviews for Cage of Dreams

[Billie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cage of Dreams
by Rebecca Schaeffer
City of Nightmares #2
Fantasy Dystopia Horror
YA(ish)
Scribd Audio
Ages 17+


After escaping, Ness is sleeping in one of her best friend's closet, the small space as safe as the one in the building the Friends of the Restful Soul provided her.

She is still afraid, but who isn't in Newham, where gunfights at the speakeasy where she works are a nightly occurrence, and the citizens will ignore the mayor candidates as they kill each other in the streets. However, it seems they are afraid of sleeping because if they have a nightmare, they will wake up as it.

But the Nightmare Phantom is free thanks to Ness, and he has a favor to ask of her, in return he will turn her into the nightmare of her wishes.

He isn't the only one who has plans for her, the Friends of the Restful Soul do also.


Picking up a little bit after the end of the first book, Ness is living in Cys' closet and working at a speakeasy as a bartender. But after another gunfight, and seeing the new server lying in the alley with the gang members, with a bullet wound, Ness decides it is time to find a new job, which sets off events that once again put her in danger.

Just like the first book, this is in first person, and Ness' whining about her life and being terrified takes center stage as she rambles repeatedly about it, but this time she is trying to do something about it, and she has some self-discoveries that just might give her some confidence if she follows through.

I liked this one better than the first, but readers (parents) be warned, it is graphic and there is a lot of language, violence, gore, and death, so it's not that suitable for readers under 17.

And while this is the conclusion of the series, there is enough left open for a possible spin-off series. :(

3 Stars