Acclaim for
THE NIGHTMARE VIRUS
“Dark and thrilling but also full of hope, The Nightmare Virus is an exciting new direction for Nadine Brandes and a game-changer for faith-based storytelling.”
—Clint Hall, author of Steal Fire From the Gods
“Brandes has captivated us again, this time with an all-too-relatable world caught in an incurable pandemic. The Nightmare Virus holds an imaginative realm of coliseum gladiators, terrifying beasts from mist, and an epic battle between light and dark. You’ll be unable to sleep as you devour each page wondering if the characters will wake up from the nightmare in this inventive dystopian of the mind.”
—Bradley Caffee, author of The Chase Runner Series and Sides
“Nadine creates stories full of adventure and depth and heart. The Nightmare Virus is just that, a story full of high stakes, inspiring light, truth in the darkness, and a rich, unique world to get lost in. You will find your heart caught up with Cain’s as you follow his transforming journey.”
—Jenna Terese, author of Ignite
“A tribute to the imagination and a feast for the soul, The Nightmare Virus paints an apocalyptic reality with the beauty of eternal truth. This story is a wild and vibrant ride, unique when compared to Brandes’ other works, and yet told with the same familiar heart. It’s the story of a young man’s journey to truth but acts as a mirror for our lives today. Readers will fight alongside Cain, hope and imagine with him, despair, and finally rejoice with him in the end. It’s a story filled with the beauty of what light can do in the darkest of places.”
—E. A. Hendryx, author of Suspended in the Stars
“Enter a world that delves into the eternal struggle between good and evil, illuminates the strength found in truth and hope, and where faith shines even in the darkest of shadows. A world where what you create—and how you create it—has a far deeper meaning than you first realized. Brandes skillfully weaves a tale that spikes your adrenaline with nightbeasts, captures your imagination with twists and turns in a dream world that feels real, and asks questions that echo in your heart as you join Cain in search of answers. This pulse-pounding adventure will touch your heart and speak to your soul.”
—CJ Milacci, author of the Talionis series
“Brandes delivers in this fast-paced, action-packed, high-stakes sci-fi. The Nightmare Virus has it all: sci-fi and fantasy feel—think Ready Player One meets Gladiator—high stakes, action, suspense, and heart all rolled into one dynamic story that I could not put down.”
—S.D. Grimm, author of The Children of the Blood Moon series and A Dragon By Any Other Name
“With Maze Runner feels, Brandes drops the reader into a world where everyone is trapped in the same nightmare, and if a cure isn’t found, no one will wake up. I was hooked from the beginning, with an urgency to keep reading as time ticked down with each chapter. An excellent science fiction read!”
—Morgan L. Busse, award-winning author of the Ravenwood Saga, Skyworld, and upcoming Winter’s Maiden
“Vivid and haunting, The Nightmare Virus grabs you by the throat and hauls you mercilessly into its dark depths! With the broad, confident strokes of a master, Nadine Brandes brings to life an immersive story world that will leave you second-guessing reality and drinking caffeine to avoid sleep. This is truly one of her best novels yet. It’s Nadine Brandes like never before—stronger, bolder, and chilling!”
—Ronie Kendig, award-winning author of The Droseran Saga
The Nightmare Virus
Copyright © 2024 by Nadine Brandes
Published by Enclave Publishing, an imprint of Oasis Family Media.
Carol Stream, Illinois, USA
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, digitally stored, or transmitted in any form without written permission from Oasis Family Media, LLC.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
ISBN: 979-8-88605-130-8 (hardback)
ISBN: 979-8-88605-131-5 (printed softcover)
ISBN: 979-8-88605-133-9 (ebook)
Cover design by Emilie Haney, www.eahcreative.com
Typesetting by Jamie Foley, www.JamieFoley.com
Printed in the United States of America.
For my Creator.
From the very beginning, this one’s been Yours.
And to my fellow nerds . . .
. . . we know which fandom wins in the end.
Table of Contents
Cover
Acclaim for The Nightmare Virus
Half-Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
The title suggests that the central plot revolves around a virus that causes or is linked to nightmares, either literally infecting people's dreams or symbolically representing a widespread societal fear.
