"It took a few chapters for me to get into it, but after the slow start it spun me around and around. And I loved it."

Copied review from my Goodreads July 20, 2019
I didn't have time when I gained access to a Netgalley ARC, but then borrowed it from my local library.

Laini Taylor is one of my favorite authors. I really love her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy so I was really excited to read Strange the Dreamer. And like her previous books, I was amazed again at how good she is in telling stories. I really love how she create such wonders with only the use of words. Her descriptions are so detailed, so vivid, and it's so amazing how you can easily imagine the world she created out of words. Her writing style appeal to all of our senses - you can see, hear, smell, feel, and taste like you are a part of the story with only the use of words, and that alone, is magic.

This book is somehow similar to her previous books - full of magic, mystery, and wonder. Laini Taylor yet again created another fantastic world with fascinating people and other creatures. Myths, monsters, magic, gods and goddesses, plot twists and a nerdy protagonist... all that good stuff, you can find it here!

The main character, Lazlo Strange, as the title would say, is a dreamer, but I would call him a book nerd. He loves to read books and he's obsessed with this mysterious, magical city. As readers, we could all relate to him. We love discovering new worlds hidden in the pages of a book, wondering if they really exist. We devour stories like they are food that we need to survive. At times, stories are escape pods from reality, and as far as I could tell, Lazlo felt the same way.

While I really enjoyed reading this book, there were some parts that I found a little bit slow. If I compare these parts to an electrocardiogram, they would be the flat, horizontal lines. It took me 2 months to finish the book because I often get bored and lose interest when I reach those flat lines.

The last few chapters made up for the slow parts of the book though. This part was an emotional roller coaster and I was in that ride. So much stuff was happening and it was very overwhelming! I can't believe that I felt so many emotions - happiness, excitement, anxiety, sadness, grief, dread, anger - in just a few chapters! I devoured these chapters as fast as I could, always wanting to know what would happen next...until I've reached the end, and my heart stopped beating.

I still want to talk more about this book because there are so many things to talk about, but it's best to dive into this book without knowing that much to maintain the "mysterious vibes" that it wants the readers to experience. I really enjoyed Strange the Dreamer even though it took me a very long time to finish it. I highly recommend it!

I really enjoy Laini Taylor books — I do, I do! — but gosh, Strange the Dreamer took such a long time to get through. Beautiful and lyrical, yet missing a spark that I was desperately looking for.

I know I'm a total black sheep in this instance (one look at the Goodreads reviews confirms this), but while the overall story was brilliant, the pace of this novel bored me to death. Well, into a reading slump at least.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy Strange the Dreamer. Oh no, I think it's pretty hard to dislike anything written by Laini Taylor — however, I do think this book could have done well with an edit. Or perhaps it's just me, and I've come to love fast-paced plots and storylines. Which this book certainly was not. So much so that I've been putting off this review for weeks so I could gather my thoughts.

This book follows Lazlo Strange who is a little...odd. Grown up in an orphanage, he was always a strange child who never cried as a baby, and was quiet as a child. When he finds work as a junior librarian, a dream that's taken hold in his heart since he was five takes hold and his obsession with the lost mythic city of Weep takes him on an adventure that would change all that he's ever known about himself, and the world he lives in.

Lazlo was a nice character, even though he's a bit dry. As a junior librarian, his job is to help the true scientists behind the scenes. Invisible and ordinary, Lazlo takes joy in discovering small snippets here and there about a lost city that was lost to history. But at the back of his mind, he knew it was real.

Strange the Dreamer flips between two character's point-of-views — Lazlo, and Sarai...a blue-skinned girl living in an abandoned monolithic statue that's overshadowing a once brilliant city. I won't say too much, but Sarai was definitely a joy to read about. Sarai and the other children that reside with her in that statue is hiding, because once upon a time, her race dropped anchor on a city, decided to stay and began terrorising its citizens. It's a sad history that I won't spoil in this review.

Lazlo and Sarai's two paths soon cross, and it's magical and beautiful and so Laini Taylor. Laini's writing definitely borders on purple prose, but yet she never really crosses that line. As a writer, she's absolutely stunning.

As a story-pacer...well, I soon got very bored with how long everything was taking. It wasn't until the very last 50 or so pages that things started happening. Hallelujah! I know some people like the slow-burn, but I'm not that kind of reader.

Overall, Strange the Dreamer was a wonderful novel filled with interesting characters and concepts. Unfortunately, its pacing was just way off for me.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored the writing of this deeply seductive fantasy book. It was haunting and beautiful and heartbreaking, all simultaneously, and the characters just seemed to leap off the page and stay in my thoughts all day. I would recommend this to anyone with an appreciation of gorgeous writing, Laini Taylor, or fantasy in general. I loved this more than words can express, and I'll definitely be re-reading this one over and over.

Strange the Dreamer is a book like no other. It draws you in and makes you feel like part of the world Laini Taylor has created. I have recommended this book countless times already and I don't think I will stop.

A must read for lovers of YA fantasy and perfect for fans of Rebel of the Sands.

It needs to be said up front that much of the plot of Strange the Dreamer relies on themes of rape and subsequent pregnancy. All of this is backstory and none happens in the current events of the book, but it is likely to be something that some readers may not wish to read about, even as backstory.

That said, I adored this book. The world is fascinating (and frustrating at times, since so much is unknown about it - but this is the first book of a series/trilogy, that only leads on into subsequent books) and the characters are all interesting. I particularly loved Lazlo's journey, though Sarai was a favourite too.

And the writing is drop dead gorgeous, pretty much as expected from Taylor. My only real annoyance is that I have to wait for the next book.

This was one of those books that I saw getting a lot of buzz, certainly the Booktubers I follow were very excited about it. And, who wouldn't be with the gorgeous bright blue cover with gilded dragonfly? Even the gold and blue flecked cover was striking. It's a book whose appearance begs you to pick it up and read it. And if that wasn't enough, the blurb is fantastic and sucked me in. I'm new to Taylor's work and I am really excited I got to read this book. What Taylor does here was really unique for me, there are certainly the trappings of epic fantasy but they're used in really interesting ways. 

I adored Lazlo's character and enjoyed him as an unusual hero type, a dreamer where the story doesn't really fit him but he's there doing the best he can anyway. I loved his bookishness and his quiet dedication. I loved the whimsical fantasy of the world-building and the adventure, although honestly, Lazlo was one of the only characters I was attached to at all. Lazlo and Sarai, and I thought her short changed as a character. I struggled with the godspawn characters as the 'them' of the book entirely - they were too juxtaposed as both terrifying and dangerous and also helpless and trapped in a way that never really worked for me. Same with the band of experts gathered to attend the problem in the city of Weep, save the thief who took up the betting ring, they were unremarkable - I'd read much more of her story though. 

That's kind of where shine wears off for me, because although Lazlo was interesting and engaging. Although I empathised with Sarai's empathy and loneliness, the story itself fell flat for me. I struggled with the plot, especially as it just seemed like there was so much more plot in the history of Weep than in the present, and it was horrific history and I found the way it was shared felt a bit wooden. I was told characters were traumatised and such, but I didn't get that from the characters themselves. I also struggled with the romance between Lazlo and Sarai, I liked the premise but found the execution left me cold, I wanted more from them, more for them, and I find the ending of the book abhorrent. The interaction between all the characters save Lazlo and Sarai is flat and unsatisfying - it's hard to care about what they're doing and why. 

The writing itself makes up for a lot here, it's lyrical and paints such a beautiful picture while you're reading that you don't seem to mind the lack of substance. At least, that's what I found for myself until I got to the end and I felt like I'd taken in so little for all the pages I'd read. Others have commented that they thought the pace a little slow in places and I'd also agree with that. I'm really glad I got to read this and my favourite part was how much of a whimsical dreamer Lazlo was, and that although he was happy in the depths of the library, he got to go on an adventure and explore the city of his dreams. 

If you've enjoyed other works by Taylor, you'll likely enjoy this book similarly. It's a good read overall, though I'm left a little wanting - and not in the way you'd hope. It's worth noting that there's some heavy content in here, reference to rape and torture and forced pregnancy - it's not gratuitous, but it's there and I found it uncomfortable reading in the story - again it was part of the being told rather than finding out as the story unfolds more organically. Although I've had Taylor's work recommended to  me several times, I'm not sure if I'm up for book 2 at this stage.

This book is magical in so many ways. Laini Taylor's writing is beautiful and compelling, conjuring magical worlds and fully realised characters. I look forward to her releases and can't wait to see what she writes next.

http://onceuponabookishtime.blogspot.co.nz/2017/04/all-things-i-loved-about-strange.html

Lazlo is an orphan obsessed with fairytales, and in particular a mythical world, long forgotten, and known only as "Weep". It is fitting, therefore, that he becomes a librarian and is able to spend years studying "Weep" and imagining everything it may have been.

Told in Laini's wonderful simple but beautiful language, I completely fell in love with this book and with Lazlo's character. This book is completely different to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series, but just as good if not better.

It does end on quite a cliffhanger, so now we all have to wait for the next installment! :o

Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Strange the Dreamer is one of the most creative and unique Fantasies I’ve read. I can not even think a book that comes close to it except Laini Taylor’s other book series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It defies all tropes and cliches and the tropes it does use makes you think that they’re brand new and have never been done before. This book heavily focuses on the dynamics of Gods, Monsters and Humans which is used a lot, but Laini Taylor manages to twist it into something that’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Our main character, Lazlo, is probably one of my new favourite main characters. It’s not often male characters are the protagonists in YA fantasy and when they are they can definitely suffer from a lot not so great cliches i.e the asshole who gets away with it because he’s hot. Lazlo broke a lot of stereotypes and didn’t suffer from any kind of toxic masculinity. He’s incredibly precious. And a librarian. Without giving away TOO MUCH he was abandoned as a child and never really grew up experiencing love, but he was always so incredibly kind. It would have been easy for him to be jaded ect. like a lot of male characters, but he was so soft and pure and I wanted to keep him safe the entire time.

I don’t even know if I should talk about the other characters, but since it’s kind of in the blurb I’ll go into it a little. Sarai, the blue skinned goddess, is so incredibly interesting. She’s such a layered and complex character and I loved her just as much as I loved Lazlo. You don’t need to worry about her only existing as a love interest. She is just as important as Lazlo. Her gift is unlike ANYTHING I’ve ever seen before and I have no idea how Laini Taylor managed to make it work so well, but she did!

The world building and magic system proves that Laini Taylor is some kind of creative (and evil) genius. Every new detail that came to light completely blew my mind. The world is so dreamlike, but so intricate and detailed that it feels like it’s actually a real part of history.

One thing I didn’t realise when I first started reading this was that it’s part of a duology. I’m not sure why I thought it was a standalone? Oops. So there is a lot of foundation being laid down. This book took me a month to read. Yep. This is more on me than Laini Taylor, but I just thought I should mention it. Strange the Dreamer is definitely a slow burn read, if you’re like me and get distracted easily be prepared for this book to take A LOT out of you. I couldn’t read more than a few chapters at a time. That’s not to say this is a bad thing – this is just a me thing. I don’t think this book would have worked if Laini Taylor didn’t go into as much detail as she did. There’s also a MASSIVE cliffhanger.

I do recommend possibly reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone first because Laini Taylor has such an unique writing style it might help you get used to it. Strange the Dreamer is one of the most magical books I’ve read. It has an amazing cast of characters and incredible beautiful writing. If you love Fantasy then I feel like it’s going to be hard to be disappointed by this.

‘Once upon a time, survival had seemed like an end unto itself. But now . . . it began to feel like an expedient with no object. Survive for what?’

If you are a fan of Laini Taylor, stop reading and go get this book. NOW.

I read Laini’s ‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’ trilogy and LOVED it. So it was with trepidation that I delved into her latest offering. How could it be as good?

It is.

‘He wasn’t an alchemist, or a hero. He was a librarian, and a dreamer. He was a reader, and the unsung expert on a long-lost city no one cared a thing about.’

If you are familiar with this genre at all, then it is safe to say that Laini Taylor is a master. She could choose any topic I believe and make it iconic. Her style of writing is breathtaking as she makes a world (a mind blowing one by the way) so far removed yet so near to all you know. Her language is so inspiring that it creates an atmosphere of magic, real and inferred. This story is unusual yet beautiful, full of love and hate, hope and fear. Delve into the hidden meaning and you will find it’s a story of those who were underestimated and learnt to forgive and reveal their true potential. The array of emotions you will feel during this read is wide.

‘Vengeance ought to be spoken through gritted teeth, spittle flying, the cords of one’s soul so entangled in it that you can’t let it go, even if you try.’

I don’t want to say too much, as the reader needs to go in unprepared and journey through this very moving tale. You may find the first three quarters of the book steady, but hold on, the end will leave you breathless. Her imagination is ridiculous - a story that is compelling, with characters that are so authentic, as their layers are slowly unfurled - you will find it difficult to put the book down. There will be times when your breath will be taken away (I audibly gasped on several occasions) and you will pause to fully comprehend what just happened and then exclaim at the consequences.

‘Sometimes a moment is so remarkable that it carves out a space in time and spins there, while the world rushes on around it.’

The last quarter of the book is riveting, thrilling, jam packed with action and plot twists you will not believe! On turning the last page you will be frantically searching for when the sequel comes out!

‘A blaze of connection—or collision, as though they had long been wandering in the same labyrinth and had finally rounded the corner that would bring them face-to-face.’

Thank you Laini Taylor for creating this world, for sweeping me away with your lyrical prose on this amazing journey. I loved everything about this book and it still sits so strongly with me, events and people lingering on long in my mind. I can’t wait for the magical and epic conclusion to this marvelous tale.

'He had a trio of fears that sat in his gut like swallowed teeth, and when he was too quiet with his own thoughts, they’d grind together to gnaw at him from within. This was the first: that he would never see further proof of magic. The second: that he would never find out what had happened in Weep. The third: that he would always be as alone as he was now.'



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

What an incredible story!

Oh, Laini Taylor you are a magical, magical writer! She creates a wold and drag you into it, allowing you to experience it and making you feel it, and once again she has whisked me away to a fascinating, enchanting and magical world of gods, monsters and the power of dreams.

The dream chooses the dreamer.


Lazlo Strange is an orphan who found the only home he has ever known in a library. From the moment he entered as a boy, he was utterly transfixed and he fuelled his imagination by reading everything he could get his hands on, but his passion was researching a mythological lost city that had captivated him his whole life. The forgotten city whose name has been lost (or possibly taken?) from the minds of the people, and is now known only as Weep.

Sneered at by scholars and nobles and nicknamed ‘Strange the Dreamer’ for his fantastical stories and ideas, nobody knew of the truth behind Lazlo’s writings, and when the opportunity arises for Lazlo to travel across a dangerous desert to the mystical city, he seizes his chance to fulfil his one and only dream, setting him off on a journey that will challenge everything that he knows and all that he is.

“Life won’t just happened to you, boy … You have to happen to it. Remember: The spirit grows sluggish when you neglect the passions.”


And then there is also the story of Sarai, a blue-skinned daughter of gods, and the survivor of a massacre that saw the end of those like her – except for the four others that she lives with, hiding their existence from the citizens of Weep, and the rest of the world.

When Lazlo arrives in Weep he knows he is there to help solve a mysterious problem, but while he is fascinated with the history of the city and all that happened there, it’s the blue-skinned beauty that appears to him in dreams that has him truly captivated.

And so develops a beautiful but impossible love story as two strangers come together, share their pasts, their present, their hopes and their dreams, and it’s sweet and gorgeous, and beautifully emotional.

She asked in a hesitant whisper, “Do you still think I’m a…a singularly unhorrible demon?”
“No,” he said, smiling. “I think you’re a fairy tale. I think you’re magical, and brave, and exquisite. And … I hope you’ll let me be in your story.”


But from the darkly ominous prologue we know that something is coming, and as the full backstory of the city of Weep is revealed, the significance of that moment becomes clear and the story builds up to an ending which had my heart pounding, tears streaming, and shocks and surprises unravelling. It’s intense, and had me glued to my kindle as I could see and feel it all unfolding before my eyes.

I loved this story. The world is magical, intriguing and well developed, and the characters are so well written – each of them so different, but again, so wonderfully developed. There are multiple POVs and smaller storylines going on in the book, and I loved the depth that this gives, and it’s all tied in to the overarching plot that is intriguing, exciting, emotional and deeply mysterious.

That ending is going to stay with me for a long time, and I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the sequel to see where it’s all going to go from here.

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


5 stars!

This is my first [author:Laini Taylor|324620] book and I have to admit it has been such a treat. I'm about to go and find ALL the Laini Taylor books to devour. This is the beginning of something beautiful!

First and foremost, I have to mention that I didn't realise that this was a part of a series (duology?) until I was very near to the end - I'm not sure why I keep doing that to myself lately! And yet <b>I'm so pleased that there will be more to this completely unique story with the amazing characters and world I have fallen in love with.</b>

The world building is simply amazing. It is slowly conjured around you through gentle, floral words. The prose is almost too much, and then it's not quite enough - a sumptuous treat that is finished at the height of enjoyment giving the perfect amount of pleasure and leaving you wanting more.

I've never had a problem with a slow-build and I can really appreciate that there is zero info dumping, however this does make the beginning a little slower than some may like but if you stick with it - it's breathtaking.

There's so many questions raised here - about hatred and prejudice and how this is dealt with; about slavery and wars and blood and death and how the repercussions of actions can be felt throughout time; about love and hope and desperation: It's more than I could have ever asked for.

<blockquote><b><i>Vengeance.</i> Sarai heard the way he said it, and she understood something. <i>Vengeance</i> ought to be spoken through gritted teeth, spittle flying, the cords of one’s soul so entangled in it that you can’t let it go, even if you try.
If you feel it— if you really <i>feel</i> it — then you speak it like it’s a still-beating heart clenched in your fist and there’s blood running down your arm, dripping off your elbow, and <i>you can’t let go</i>.</b></blockquote>

The story begins with Lazlo Strange and I immediately connected to him: That wild youth who felt all the magic and was so obsessed with a forgotten city and his make believe world of play. I even connected to the quiet gray person he became with his wildness not quite gone but rather simmering for all that time - that underdog who wanted to be so much more than he was, the dreamer who never stopped dreaming.

<blockquote><b>There were no books to hide behind, and no shadows — only Lazlo Strange in his worn gray robes, with his nose that had been broken by fairy tales, looking like the hero of no story ever told.
Or. No story <i>yet</i> told.</b></blockquote

The plot is oh so unique and I loved the world that is created here - there are gods and goddesses, ghosts and monsters and myths and fantasy and none of them are like anything I've read before. It was a fresh and wonderful and utterly beautiful place to be.

<blockquote><b>“Beautiful <i>and</i> full of monsters? ”
“All the best stories are.”</b></blockquote>

The characters are fantastic - complex, believable and easy to connect with. Too easy in fact - before I even realised that I was, I was way too invested in the story and found myself sobbing at the end.... Although it's not <i>exactly</i> an unhappy ending it definitely wasn't what I was expecting and now I'm waiting on tenterhooks for the next book... 2018 isn't that far away... Right?

What I admired the most is that for (almost) each and every character there was no simple story and no cardboard cut out or stencil that they are drawn from - there were many sides to each and every personality and MOTIVES to their actions, so much so that you could feel compassion for so many of them even when you couldn't condone their actions.

The romance in the book was pretty darned awesome and I loved the ferocity of love and hope that was displayed. At the end of this book I'm pretty heartbroken and yet strangely hopeful too: I'm not sure where we can go from here but I honestly can't wait to find out!

<blockquote><b>This time tomorrow, they would be mysteries no longer.
The end of wondering, he thought, but not of <i>wonder</i>. That was just beginning. He was certain of it.</b></blockquote>

I FORGOT HOW GORGEOUS LAINI TAYLOR'S WRITING IS
I remembered Laini Taylor’s writing was amazing, but I forgot exactly how beautiful it is! Nothing I say could possible do it justice but it’s the most well written thing I’ve read in a long time. I’m in awe of her talent with words.

Gif: http://readerswonderland.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/so-beautiful.gif

WHAT MAKES A MONSTER?
One of the main discussions I really enjoyed in STRANGE THE DREAMER was the theme of heroes and monsters. What makes someone a hero, and what is a monster? It’s not as clear cut as people want to believe. After the events at the end of the book I’m really looking forward to how the citizens of the world change their perspective in MUSE OF NIGHTMARES.

THE WORLD IS AMAZING
I was in love with this world when Lazlo was still in Zosma, but then we went to Weep and it became even more fascinating. Weep is like Atlantis, a hidden civilization lost to a curse. It’s crumbling, falling apart, but there’s still some magic to it. It sounds absolutely gorgeous. And all the mythical creatures that call it home make it even better!

Gif: http://readerswonderland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dont-want-to-go.gif

I'M READY FOR MORE
STRANGE THE DREAMER is an introductory book. Lots of things are set up. While it’s entertaining to read, not all that much happened really, not until the very end. Something big is going to happen in MUSE OF NIGHTMARES and I cannot wait to find out how it all unfolds.

IT'S A BOOK THAT WILL BE HARD TO BEAT
Though STRANGE THE DREAMER had some flaws (mostly I wasn’t completely sold on the romance, and the end was predictable, though I was still hoping That Specific Sad Thing wouldn’t happen even as it was unfolding), it was still an incredible book. The writing, the world, and the characters alone have put this on my favourites list. It has set a high bar for other books to meet.

Gif: http://readerswonderland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/120932-Damn-Good-Imgur-gYum.gif

IN SUMMARY:
From the very first chapter of STRANGE THE DREAMER, I was very quickly reminded of why I loved the DOSAB trilogy so much. Laini Taylor is an amazing author, and STRANGE THE DREAMER is hands down my favourite book of hers I’ve read. I never wanted to leave this world, with its monsters and magic and feels. I’m really looking forward to continuing this legend she’s begun.

Laini Taylor is one of those absolute gems that consistently release extremely high quality novels. Admittedly, I have quite a narrow pool of auto-buy authors, mostly because I'm picky about what books that I buy (limited shelf space, you know the feel). Laini Taylor is one of those authors whose books I will certainly not hesitate to grab for that precious shelf space.

Strange the Dreamer took what high expectations I had for Laini Taylor and lifted them even higher. I love her writing; it's just absolutely gorgeous. I could easily see myself reading this book time and time again, coming back to the spectacularly magical world that she has created. If anyone has read Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, Strange the Dreamer reminded me of that novel, and if you enjoyed that book I would certainly recommend giving Strange a go as well (although to be honest, I'd recommend that you read Strange regardless, because it is magnificent).

Such fantastic ideas emerge from Laini Taylor's brain. I thought it would be difficult to top Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but Strange the Dreamer is certainly at least on par (please don't ask me to choose between them, it's too hard).

I hesitate to mention anything about the actual substance of the novel, because it's one of those novels where it's completely fine to go in blind (as I did) and just enjoy what you're reading. I knew nothing about the characters or the world, and was still spellbound from page one.

Honestly, Strange the Dreamer was basically a flawless novel. Actually, I take that back, there is a flaw, and that's the fact that the book ended on a monstrous cliffhanger and now we have to wait for the sequel. I'm pretty sure everyone who read the book is now curled up on the floor willing themselves to hibernate to wait out the winter until The Muse of Nightmares is released.

(Also sidenote: I bought the first edition hardback. It's actually so beautiful with its blue stained pages and Laini's moth illustrations (and signature). Would 100% recommend you get it, or the Aussie paperback edition which also has these bonus features, if you're a fan.)

(And yes, I realise all the above sounds more like the words of a raving fangirl than a proper review, but I'm totally okay with that haha)

Ratings
Overall: 10/10
Plot: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

I can't tell you how excited I was when requested this book - I love love love Laini Taylor and her "Daughter of Smoke & Bone" series, it remains one of the best YA series' out there. So naturally, through my excitement, I was also mildly hesitant. Would this live up to my super high expectations?

YES.

This book is beautiful, and stunning, and impossibly well written. Laini has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat, but also in a dreamlike stupor - she's just too good. Her characters are always wonderfully drawn out, and unique, flawed and interesting. Her world-building is perfectly thought out, and her ideas are always so fresh and different - when you read so much YA like I do, it is so refreshing to then read something like this which completely just raises the bar.

I am so excited to see where she takes this world. *squeal*

What started out as a very slow read ended up being a book that I struggled to put down.

Since this is my first time reading anything from Lani Taylor, I am unfamiliar to her writing style. This probably did not help me for the first third of the book as she sets up the world excellently , albeit very slowly. Strange the Dreamer follows Lazlo Strange, a junior librarian who ends up travelling to a mystical lost city called Weep.

I do not want to say too much as I feel like once I start getting into the meat of the story, you will know everything that occurs. What I will say though is that Strange the Dreamer seemed to be split into two seperate acts. Whilst the first one was, in my opinion, the most boring; it was also nessecary to set up everything else that occurs. Even after the first act finished, it was still a slow read but things start to tie together and the overall picture makes sense.

Whist a slow read, it does pick up and sink its teeth into you.