Strange the Dreamer: The magical international bestseller

Lazlo Strange has dreamed of the mythical lost city of Weep since he was a young boy playing make-believe in the orchards of the monastery where he was raised. Now a librarian in the Great Library of Zosma, Lazlo spends his days still dreaming of journeying to the lost City, until that is the day arrives when his dreams look set to turn into reality. Suddenly he finds himself one of a group of delegates accompanying a mysterious stranger known as the Godslayer as well as a group of legendary warriors from the lost city. What awaits them there is even more extraordinary than anything even Lazlo could have dreamed! I found myself completely immersed in this imaginative and captivating read, drawn into the vividly described fantasy world that Taylor has created. From the Great Library of Zosma, to the vast desert plains of the Elmuthaleth, and to the lost City itself, it was a joy accompanying Lazlo on his voyage of discovery. Lazlo himself makes for a wonderful fantasy book hero, with his nose always behind a book and his mind full of wonder; he's gentle and kind and very easy to like. Yet I thought that Taylor did a really good job of portraying a whole host of more complex characters too. There's Thyon Nero, the arrogant alchemist, who early on in the story seems set on being a clear villain; yet I was surprised to find that it wasn't quite so black and white. The Godslayer too is another prime example, a hero who saved his City and its people from a reign of terrible tyranny, and yet at a great cost too;such that he is haunted by the blood on his hands. Minya, again, is an intriguing character; controlling and manipulative, she might easily have been painted a pure villain, but the tragedy of her past and the great trauma she has witnessed can but render her in a more sympathetic light. I don't want to go into detail regarding the ins and outs of the story, but I thought that Taylor touched upon some great themes within the book, re-working them in an imaginative way. Its a story about the aftermath of tyranny and war, about hatred and how hard it can be to forgive and reach a reconciliation. I thought that Taylor did a good job of portraying two sides of a story; as a reader it is easy to appreciate the suffering that the people of Weep have endured, but by allowing us to get to see things from the Godspawns' points of view, and Sarai's in particular, we gain an insight into what they - the orphans of war - have endured too. I personally found the idea of the Mesarthim and the Godspawn, with their mystical powers, intriguing; and there are still so many unanswered questions regarding them. Who were the Mesarthim, where did they come from, and what happened to all those Godspawn children over the centuries? Sarai's power is a particularly interesting one and obviously shapes a lot of the story; with dream elements becoming more prominent as the book goes on. I really liked the depiction of the dream sequences in which Lazlo and Sarai interact; and thought Taylor really managed to capture that whimsical and magical quality that dreams have. The romance between the two central characters was I thought sweetly rendered; and whilst some people have complained that it felt too instantaneous and also took up too much time I would disagree on both accounts. I think the secluded nature of the lives that both Lazlo and Sarai have lived, makes it believable that they might develop feelings so quickly for each other; and I think the ending of the book makes it quite clear why so much time was invested in their relationship.Certainly the book ends on a cliffhanger, with some very interesting dynamics being set up;such that I can't wait for the sequel. I did guess at the ending of the story, but that didn't at all spoil it. I would also say that the book starts off quite slow, but if you stick with the first few chapters, things soon start getting interesting. A beautifully written book, with exquisite prose and imagery, this is certainly a story I won't be forgetting in a while.

I had delayed reading "Strange the Dreamer" for nearly 3 years after buying it. Why? Having previously read the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy, I knew roughly what type of story to expect; I knew it would be beautifully written, and creatively special. But I also had a sort of dichotomy between wanting to read it, and wanting to keep the fizz of anticipation! Finally, I opened its pages and dived in.... This series opener is a sensuous symphony of lyrical language, captivating characters, and incredible imagination. It is simultaneously a compelling tale of a foundling's mystery, relationships of all kinds, and world-changing conflict ... and a glorious illustration of the richness of dreams and fantastical realms. And of course the magical world contains lapis lazuli, which naturally is close to my heart! So there's that. ;-) All in all, I emerge from the reading of Strange the Dreamer feeling that I have been immersed in an extraordinary otherworld of enchantment and curiosity, and learning and understanding ... a world where so much is possible, and connection, love, and intimacy arise in unexpected ways. Of course I am now looking forward to reading Muse of Nightmares ... knowing the story so far, the fizz for this one has a different hue and taste. Maybe I'll let that fizz bubble for a little while longer! ;-) If you enjoyed The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, I have no doubt you'll revel in Strange and Sarai's journey, too. And, if you have a rich imagination or busy dreamlife, then this is surely right up your street!

I needed to sit with this for a while before writing my review, I had conflicting thoughts about Strange the Dreamer. For the first 30% I was enjoying it but somewhat confused, and not entirely invested in the characters. I can see why I’ve seen people dnf at this point, because the writing takes some getting used to, like breaking a shoe in. But once it clicked, I was completely hooked and obsessed with this world, and Lazlo and Sarai. So whimsical, yet with the high-stakes plot you would expect from a complex fantasy. Brilliant twists I didn’t see coming, and perhaps most surprising of all, the cutest romance I’ve read in years I cannot wait to finish the duology with the Muse of Nightmares

Taylor is a genius, there's nothing she has written that I haven't liked. Strange the dreamer is full of magic, heartache, and the ending had me in a chokehold. (Tears were shed) and true fear for the MC has me reaching for book 2 .

4.5 stars out of 5. It could easily have been a five stars but I had issues with a few things, mainly the insta-love and the ending that was a bit too traditional (I wouldn't say cliché because it wouldn't do it justice). Everything else was amazing. The pacing, the atmosphere, the unique writing style and the sketched-out-but-not-spelled-out characters. Contrary to what I've read in other reviews, I actually really liked the 100 first pages. The first two thirds of the book are in fact the best part of Strange the Dreamer. The characters were a really strong point for me : almost every one of them avoids classical tropes, except maybe Nero and, sadly, Sarai. I particularly liked Laszlo, who is a credible and likable in a not in-your-face way new model of male main character. Can't wait for the next one, even if, strangely since it almost never happens, I have absolutely no idea about what could happen in the next. The story could finish there. But it won't. And I thank Laini Taylor for that.

This is a 2 part series. It is one of the most beautiful reads I have had in a very long time. Every word, every expression, every detail is filled with magic. You enter into a completely different realm altogether so much so that you start wishing you were in it. If you want an escape from the daily life and dive into something extraordinary outwardly then definitely go for it. It won't have realistic issues of the world but it is full of intense emotions and feelings which we all go through at some point in our life.

Any books by this author is awesome!

After Daughter of Smoke and Bone I thought that Laini was going to have a hard time coming up with something even better... OH GOD. I was so SO wrong. This is a masterpiece. The kids up in the Citadel are described so well you can imagine every single detail, and the development of Lazlo is just perfect. This is one of my new favorite books.