Strange the Dreamer

Laini Taylor

“He believed in magic, like a child, and in ghost, like a peasant.”

On a whim, I bought Strange the Dreamer, and there it sat undownloaded on my kindle for weeks. I didn’t really know what Strange the Dreamer was about; I just liked the cover. 

Let’s get right to it: I simply loved this book, I loved it so much I slowly read it chapter by chapters for weeks. Should you read it, YES. 

“She was seen. She was seen. Up in the citadel, Sarai jerked back. She snapped the tether or consciousness and cut the moth loose…”

What is it about?

Lazlo has been obsessed with Weep since he was a child. So much so, even in his adult studies, he has dedicated years of his life to Weep. The from the lore to the language, he knows everything. While his colleagues brush Lazlo off as a lackluster daydreamer, he continues to dream of visiting the mystical land of Weep.

While helping a patron, Lazlo sees an approaching caravan of people approaching the city. Not just anybody, but the legendary Godslayer. Quickly, Lazlo’s dreams become a reality.

The ghost of gods and goddesses that once were haunt the citadel. The citizens of Weep are tortured by their presence. The Godslayer collects a group of specialists, Lazlo being one of them, to help rid Weep of the gods forever.

But Lazlo sees a young goddess in his dreams. One who is just as interested in Lazlo as he is in her.

My Thoughts

From the first few chapters, I knew Strange the Dreamer would be one of my favorite books. I wish I could have a more in-depth review of why I loved Strange the Dreamer as much as I did, but I cannot put my thoughts into words.

There is beauty in this book that mimics a fairy tale. Part of my love for Strange the Dreamer came from the way the story was told- through the third person. It was refreshing to take a step back from the personal account of a first-person narrative.

Strange the Dreamer is focused on Lazlo, a young librarian, but also Sarai, a goddess. The first half of the book is about Lazlo and his obsession with Weep. The rest of the book switches through perspectives. As I have made clear many times, I do not multi-perspective books, Strange the Dreamer made the transition from character to character easy. As the story progressed, I found myself sympathizing with all of the characters and loving them. Lazlo being my favorite.

Strange the Dreamer is beautifully written. There is a perfect combination of world-building, prose, and magic. While reading, I was simply enchanted with the story. As much as I loved this book, it is not for every reader. At times the pace was slow and this could be problematic if you want nonstop action. Strange the Dreamer is like honey, full of goodness but slow to move.

I highly recommend you give Strange the Dreamer a try. Still, similar to The Bear and the Nightingale, it is a fantastic read, but not everyone will enjoy as much as I did.

Have you read Strange the Dreamer? Have you read any of Laini Taylor’s other titles?