ARC Review: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Strange the Dreamer #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: March 28th 2017
Book Length: 432

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

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.

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Review

Make room on your favourite shelves, Strange the Dreamer demands nothing but that top coveted spot. I’m ashamed to say this is my first Laini Taylor book, now I’m sure her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series deserves all the praise it receives but I don’t regret reading Strange the Dreamer first. I can now say my first Laini Taylor book was one of the best books I’ve read all year. Yes, it’s that good!

Strange the Dreamer is about an orphan called Lazlo Strange who was raised by monks since he was born. Lazlo is what the title says, a dreamer, his imagination is wild and magnificent. He spends every spare minute with his nose stuck in a book, so much so that a gigantic book of fairy-tales broke his nose falling from a shelf in the library. He dreams of being a fairytale warrior from Weep, the lost city that hasn’t been heard or spoken of for years, as if the beautiful city was just removed from history… and memory.

“You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded..

"Something beautiful and full of monsters."

“Beautiful and full of monsters?"

“All the best stories are.”

Taylor takes readers on a wonderful adventure following Lazlo Stranger in search of the magical city of Weep. I can’t express enough how absolutely stunning the writing was, there was gorgeous prose, vivid world building and multifaceted characters.  There’s gods, goddesses, monsters, bloodshed all layered on top of a complex plot that will keep you guessing throughout.

Like with my review of The Bear and the Nightingale, I’m not going to say much more. I feel like the synopsis for Strange the Dreamer is purposely short and teasing, so as not to give too much away. However I think it will completely pay off, you will be hooked from the beginning and have your mind blown by the end. I highly, highly recommend this book, it was so cleverly written and everything you want from a fantasy book, absolutely spectacular!