Strange the Dreamer(Strange the Dreamer #1)
by Laini Taylor
March 28, 2017
544 pages
Goodreads Summary:
A new epic fantasy by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around— and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around— and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.
Review
This book was beautiful. Strange the Dreamer was a gorgeous book. It has hands down one of the most lovely writing I've ever read. I now understand why people are obsessed with Laini Taylor.
It's funny that I ended up loving this book because when the title was first revealed I thought it was weird. (I hope I wasn't the only one haha.) It honestly made me skeptical and unsure if I wanted to pick it up. Now after having read the book, Strange the Dreamer couldn't have been more right. It perfectly embodies the story and its dream-like qualities.
Strange the Dreamer is a fascinating story full of dangerous allures and dreadful history. The whole book was a slow burn. I wouldn't say the pacing was slow but it definitely took its time building up to the climax. I'm impressed by Ms. Taylor's creativity but it's also difficult not to cringe at some of the disturbing things that happened in the book. The awful implications coupled with the excellent depiction of dreams made the whole story feel surreal.
The story might be a little bit confusing to start with but as it went on, you more than get the big picture. I thought it was amazing to experience the story from the different POVs. Lazlo and Sarai both have such all-encompassing feelings. It's powerful to see through their eyes. There is a bit of instalove though given both characters were new to the feeling, I gave them a pass. They have their plates full as it is. If that ending is any indication, I've no doubt The Muse of Nightmares will continue to stretch their limits and test their resolves. I only hope the side characters will be of more help than they were in this first book. I liked them enough but they weren't exactly lovable. I wanted more action out of them.
Some readers will love this book and some won't. It's a story you really have to experience for yourself. Personally I love Laini Taylor's writing and feel Strange the Dreamer is a beautiful work of art. I say don't shy away but give it a try.
It's funny that I ended up loving this book because when the title was first revealed I thought it was weird. (I hope I wasn't the only one haha.) It honestly made me skeptical and unsure if I wanted to pick it up. Now after having read the book, Strange the Dreamer couldn't have been more right. It perfectly embodies the story and its dream-like qualities.
Strange the Dreamer is a fascinating story full of dangerous allures and dreadful history. The whole book was a slow burn. I wouldn't say the pacing was slow but it definitely took its time building up to the climax. I'm impressed by Ms. Taylor's creativity but it's also difficult not to cringe at some of the disturbing things that happened in the book. The awful implications coupled with the excellent depiction of dreams made the whole story feel surreal.
The story might be a little bit confusing to start with but as it went on, you more than get the big picture. I thought it was amazing to experience the story from the different POVs. Lazlo and Sarai both have such all-encompassing feelings. It's powerful to see through their eyes. There is a bit of instalove though given both characters were new to the feeling, I gave them a pass. They have their plates full as it is. If that ending is any indication, I've no doubt The Muse of Nightmares will continue to stretch their limits and test their resolves. I only hope the side characters will be of more help than they were in this first book. I liked them enough but they weren't exactly lovable. I wanted more action out of them.
Some readers will love this book and some won't. It's a story you really have to experience for yourself. Personally I love Laini Taylor's writing and feel Strange the Dreamer is a beautiful work of art. I say don't shy away but give it a try.
*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinion are my own and not affected in any way.
Yay, I'm so happy you loved this book so much! Wonderful review, Eileen! :D Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteBrittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles
It's so hard to review this one omg. I feel like there's so much I didn't cover because it's such a great book! I just wrote what I could think of... Hopefully everything above made sense XD
DeleteGlad you liked this so much. I didn't love her first book, so not sure I'd really like this one either. I've become a really finicky reader since my husband died. Maybe I'll pick it up though.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with being picky! I haven't read her debut series so I can't say much on it but I thought this new one by her was quite lovely :)
DeleteI totally agree about the slow burn - it took me almost the first 100 pages to truly feel compelled to keep reading. My faith in Laini was the only thing keeping me going for a while! Haha
ReplyDeleteThis was my first book by her so I didn't even have that haha. I'm so glad we both loved it :)
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