Lost in Pages

“It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming?”

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Where do I even start? I find it really difficult to review a book like Strange the Dreamer because I usually have an equal amount of things I liked and disliked about a book. With this one, I honestly liked the whole dang thing. I’m finding it difficult to pick anything about it that needed work because it was just that good. The only criticism I have is on myself because it took me so long to pick this beauty up before now.

I hadn’t read anything by Laini Taylor before Strange, but I knew of her other works and how much everyone adored her writing. I’m realizing lately that I enjoy fantasy novels far more if I go into them without fully knowing what they’re about, and I did just that with this one. Needless to say, Laini Taylor is a beautiful writer, and I will definitely pick up the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy now.

If you want to know a quick synopsis, Strange the Dreamer is about an orphan librarian named Lazlo Strange who embarks on a journey to a fabled town called Weep. In the city, there are people in hiding called godspawn (half human, half god), and when Lazlo meets one in his dreams, everything about their world changes.

If there’s one thing I must discuss in this review, it’s my new book love, Lazlo Strange.

He’s a book loving sweetheart, and I felt uber protective of him throughout the entire book (ask Ashley, she had to endure some of my “I’m worried about Lazlo” conversations), like he was my own little child. He’s quiet but so smart and resourceful, and Taylor does a fantastic job at making you instantly fall in love with him. I mean, he broke his nose because a storybook fell off of a shelf and hit his face. How adorably bookish is that?

Strange the Dreamer has dual perspectives, one being Lazlo of course, and the other being Sarai.

“I’m not a dream,” said Sarai. There was bitterness in her voice. “I’m a nightmare.”

Sarai is a blue-skinned goddess, hiding away with the other godspawn in Weep. She has the power to infiltrate people’s dreams using her moths – they flutter and land on the foreheads of sleepers, and she can see into their minds and dreams. She uses this to meet Lazlo, and they form an unusual bond. She hates her powers, she hates her blue skin, and she hates being isolated. But despite all the negatives in her life, she’s nothing but good. She sees the good in others and always tries to do the right thing, and she’s a great character because of it.

I cannot wait until October for the sequel – Muse of Nightmares – to come out. I have so many questions that need answers, and I need to know that my love, Lazlo, will be okay. He’ll be okay…right?

Strange the Dreamer is mystical and magical and all-around mesmerizing. It clocks in at around 530 pages, but you’re captivated by every single word. I listened to the majority on audiobook (Steve West is the BEST narrator ever), and even though I could only get in a few 20-25 minute sprints at a time, I couldn’t help but be sucked in to the story within seconds. The world and magic system is so unique, and the characters are incredibly realistic. I can’t recommend this book enough, guys. Honestly, do yourself a favor and pick it up. You won’t regret it.

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Have you read Strange the Dreamer? Let us know your thoughts below!