Book: Strange the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
My Rating: 5 Sweet Dreams
Hey readers, we’re being asked to stay in and practice social distancing. Well bookworms, I’ve got a book that will help you fight off the cabin fever! Have you heard of Strange the Dreamer? I’ll be honest, I’m shocked this book isn’t more popular. It’s an epic adventure story with truly lovable characters.
Lazlo (one of my favorite characters of all time) is an orphan raised in an abbey. As a boy he cherishes the stories he hears there. One day he’s sent into Zosma on an errand to the library and he loses himself there. When he’s found by a librarian, they just take him on as a junior librarian instead of sending him back to the abbey. “Lazlo couldn’t have belonged to the library more truly if he were a book himself.” Um, hello, new favorite character. One day a stranger called the Godslayer, from an ancient lost city rides into Zosma and offers the chance of a lifetime. A trip to the unseen city. Lazlo, who has dedicated his life to the study of this city is not going to miss his chance. And that’s how he finds himself in the middle of his own real life adventure story. In the meantime, we get chapters from Sarai, a young goddess trapped in a castle with her siblings. Finally, their stories intersect, and Lazlo and Sarai must work together to save the city.
Y’all. This book is so good. I can’t even describe to you the emotions I experienced reading this. Laini Taylor is not afraid to rip your heart out. Her writing is gorgeous. The story has a lyrical quality that really gave the whole thing a dreamy vibe. My experience was very similar to the first time I read Lord of the Rings. I just found myself lost in this epic fictional world and I didn’t want to leave. Every character is special, even the ones you don’t like. And Lazlo is the most precious hero.
I will say that this was almost a slow starter for me, in that the beginning was a lot of set up for Lazlo and there wasn’t a ton happening. However, I didn’t mind so much because the writing was beautiful and also Lazlo was such an adorable nerd that I didn’t mind. However, once Lazlo sets off on his adventure, there was not a moment of boredom. The cast of characters is massive, and many of them you don’t meet until halfway through the story, but Laini Taylor has impeccable pacing. Everything happens at precisely the right moment.
I’ve been a bit vague on the finer details of this story on purpose. I don’t think any review could do this story justice, and I don’t want to spoil anything for you. I hope you to read this like I did for the first time and you’re blown away. Here’s a warning for you: if you’re going to read this book, you’ll need to have the second book, Muse of Nightmares on standby, open to page one, ready to go as soon as you finish this one. Because you will be totally gutted at the end of book one, and the only cure will be to immediately start book two. This is a great book to lose yourself in for a little while. The scope of the story is so epic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I still think about this book, and there are parts that I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from. If you have big, ALL CAPS feelings about it, my inbox is always open!
Krystle Goodman is a crazy cat lady, who loves to drink exorbitant amounts of coffee, and read a shocking amount of books. She lives in Benton with her husband Josh, her son Roman, and their two cats Roxanne and Abby. When she isn’t reading, you’ll find her cooking, painting, or watching true crime shows. Watch for Krystle’s book reviews every other Friday. Send fanmail to: [email protected]
See more of Krystle’s reviews at www.mysaline.com/krystle.