Book Review: A Nightmare’s Point of View by April Kuper

A Nightmare’s Point of View by April Kuper

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A Nightmare’s Point of View –

Nightmares never go away… You may chase them away. You can think you killed them… You may stop believing and forget them, but Nightmares never go away… Nightmares don’t die… They just wait…

Explore what’s on the other side of the shadows… What really is going on when the last remnants of light fade out and you close your eyes to sleep? Nowhere is safe when they find you…

Atheireyn are the ultimate nightmare species. They are nigh unbeatable, indestructible, unyielding, and unkillable…

No matter where they can move through shadows. They can open doorways to anywhere in the universe and when hungry, there is no safe place…

The book is about a monstrous alien named Embrance trying to change his species’ deathly eating habits. It is a Sci-fi fantasy adventure with an array of emotions, colorful characters, and perspectives. It isn’t a light read. This is a healthy-size Sci-fi dark fantasy and a plus-size adventure. Warning: contains some adult themes and some gore.

A Nightmare’s Point of View Review

I was compensated with a small amount for my time and effort in reading the book and writing this review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and are based on my honest personal experience reading the book. Nor did the publisher in any way shape or form ever pressure me to give a positive review.

Through the compelling story of A Nightmare’s Point of View, April Kuper immerses readers in a world where nightmares persist and refuse to go away. Once admired for their advanced technology, kindness, and beauty, the Teyrathayn are the strange beings at the centre of this dark and mysterious cosmos. With their crystalline eyes reflecting light like a thousand prisms, the Teyrathayn stood tall and projected an air of grandeur. However, underlying their calm exterior was a rising worry—a sense of coming disaster as evil powers attempted to destroy their placid way of life. An urgent quest to defend their race was taken up by a group of Teyrathayn scientists as hostilities intensified and treaties broke down.

With unmatched expertise in biology, chemistry, and technology, they created guardians—beings created to keep their people safe. But their creation set off a disastrous series of events that led to the arrival of the ultimate Nightmare species, the Atheireyn. A portal was constructed, engulfing their world whole and closing it off from the horrors they had unleashed while the Teyrathayn struggled with the approaching darkness. Following their disappearance, the Atheireyn reappeared, threatening to cover the universe in a shadow of fear. Readers are urged to delve into the depths of dread and the eternal legacy of a species lost to the flow of time within this gripping narrative.

Right off the bat, this book boasts one of the most compelling prologues I’ve ever encountered. I’m genuinely impressed by the author’s execution. The writing style is a standout feature for me, and I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate it. What sets it apart is the seamless transition between different narrative styles, tailored to the specific narrator of each section. Take, for instance, the contrast between the prologue and Chapter one. While some authors struggle to strike the right balance, often veering into overly dramatic or convoluted territory, this book nails it.

Instead of feeling forced or contrived, the tone sets the stage for the impending dread and horror that permeate the rest of the novel. The prologue expertly lays the groundwork, providing readers with a tantalizing glimpse into what lies ahead and the events that have transpired. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that I was immediately captivated, without a hint of exaggeration. This introduction not only establishes the premise but also leaves us craving more, eager to unravel the mysteries that await.

As someone who selectively indulges in darker-themed books, this book definitely stands out as a darker-themed book that I enjoyed. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in Embrance’s character portrayal and his dynamic interactions with the cast, particularly Ullgrent and Auwssya. The flirtations and palpable chemistry between them were nothing short of fantastic.

One intriguing thing I noticed is that the book occasionally almost seems like a diary. I feel as though I’m sifting through Embrance’s private journal as I immerse myself in its pages, seeing and hearing the events as he did. I was pleasantly surprised that this unusual storytelling approach didn’t present any difficulties for me, but rather gave the story a unique depth that I found to be really engaging. It adds smoothly to the book’s atmospheric appeal, which heightens my enjoyment of the narrative’s richness and immersion.

This critique pertains more to the formatting of the book, based on the version provided by the author. In my case, it’s a PDF file, so I can’t speak for other readers, but I noticed a frequent switching of fonts between dialogues of different characters. Initially, this didn’t pose much of an issue, but some fonts, particularly those used for characters like Ullgrent and occasionally Embrance, proved challenging to read. The difficulty became more pronounced during interactive conversations involving multiple characters, each with its own distinct font style.

While I appreciate the author’s intention to visually enhance the book, the constant back-and-forth contrast in font styles during dialogues strained my eyes. While visual aesthetics are undoubtedly important, I believe that the legibility of the text should take precedence and should not be compromised for the sake of stylistic choices.

Overall, the story was exceptionally captivating, with the atmosphere and style standing out as its strongest elements. Since it captured a mood and tone that kept me engaged throughout. For prospective readers, I recommend sampling the prologue and Chapter 1 as a litmus test to gauge whether the book aligns with their preferences. These initial sections encapsulate the essence of what the book has to offer and provide a glimpse into the journey that lies ahead. If you really like darker-themed books with distinctive styles, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

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About the Author of A Nightmare’s Point of View

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April Kuper was born on May 4, 1980, in Boise, Idaho. She loves art in nearly all its many forms. Growing up, pens and pencils were her main focal point and what she could afford. She was never without either. She is a huge fan of Bob Ross. “I grew up watching him almost every day and my father majored in art in collage. He never went anywhere with it but still had much of the items from his early years in collage. So, I loved getting into his books to explore the various styles of art. At times, he would find me in his art supplies and brushes. My first art set was a pack of pastels  and artist drawing pad in fifth grade from someone at my father’s work I drew a tree in pen for.”

Besides art, she also loves sci-fi, fantasy, gardening, adventure and history. Much of her young life, April grew up surrounded by criticism and apprehension. Being ADHD and severely dyslexic made life difficult, so she drew inward. She put much of her focus into worlds outside the veil of reality seeing her dreams as portals to other realms and universes, keeping them to herself…until now.

Finding the confidence and learning new opportunities in college, April went to Stevens-Henager College for business. Writing becoming no longer a challenge, April began her first writing journey at the end of her bachelor’s degree with A Nightmare’s Point of View while writing Shadow Side in between for fun. She graduated from college with a master’s degree in business and a new perspective on opportunity.

She shares her life with her wonderful husband, Chris, who also loves writing. They have four children: Shaydon, Shawn, Corey, and Jesse. Jesse is the only girl out of the children.

Much of her books were made on a phone with Google Keep, a note app, copied and pasted, so she could place them in Word and combine it into a story. “If I can text, then I can write. With improvement with technology, it gave me the chance to finally bring forth the adventures I had kept to myself. Pencils have no spell check; that was part of my problem while growing up. I didn’t have easy access to computers nor could afford one. I hope that all will enjoy this adventure and many more to come!”

Currently there are two books published by April: A Nightmare’s Point of View and Shadow Side. Both are planned to be each other their own book series and all will be illustrated by her.