Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer
by Laini Taylor

Read: March 2 - 6, 2017

Published: March 28, 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: ALA

Category: YA, Fantasy

Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Book Description: 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 or 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?

Welcome to Weep.

_________________________________________________________________________

I am a huge fan of Laini Taylor's books. She creates intensely details fantasy worlds, characters who jump vividly off the page and romances that tear you apart with their beauty and longing. I could not wait to get my hands on her newest work Strange the Dreamer, and when I finally read it, I was completely blown away. This story is everything I expected in her books and more, including the fantastic creatures and heartbreak amidst the gorgeous words and imagery. 

Strange the Dreamer is not fast paced, but it is completely mesmerizing, and I was enthralled all the way through. I love the way the story begins with Lazlo Strange and builds slowly and powerfully. I fell harder and harder in love with Lazlo and then Sarai, and then their connection with each other as the tale unfolded. Especially Lazlo, whose love of stories and dreams of seeing Weep made me ache with longing along with him. 

Strange the Dreamer has a dreamlike quality that mirrors the themes in a mind-bendingly gorgeous way. But dreams can easily tip into nightmares and this story creeps into terrifying darkness as well. I loved everything about this tale save one thing that broke me into a million pieces. I'm never going to get over it, though I should have expected it. I'm such an emotional reader, and I was so mad when I finished that it took me a few weeks to recover, but there's no denying this story's magical pull. 

I know I didn't give very many specific details in these thoughts, which is mostly because this story was so wonderful to discover on its own without much influence. Also, often the less I say, the more protective I feel about a book. I highly, highly recommend this, and now I'm desperate for the sequel Muse of Nightmares. 

Love Triangle Factor: None 
Cliffhanger Scale: High