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aritrigupta's review against another edition
5.0
I think my mind still refuses to come out of the blissful coma that this book had induced.
Can I give 10 stars?
[a:Laini Taylor|324620|Laini Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1224474224p2/324620.jpg] is one of my favourite authors, and DoSaB, is well, what I read when I need fairy tales in my life. She writes poetry in her stories, songs of unbelievable places, creatures, and breathes in love in those with her words.
You are in for a treat, the moment you pick this book up - the elaborate verse, the narration, the wondrous use of simple words to pen a fable of magic and love - I don't think I can do justice in describing what it felt like reading this book.
You know how magnificent Taylor is when you find her fantastical story more believable than the average contemporary books. The characters, the finer details of the plot, the backstories, pretty much everything will absorb you in, right from the start. They are throbbing, real and magical, all at the same time.
And for the dreamers and utter romantics, we all need a Lazlo in our lives. The only downside would be now I'll have to wait for the sequel for more of Lazlo and Sarai.
This book is perfection, in all its senses. And that's all there is to say about it.
Can I give 10 stars?
[a:Laini Taylor|324620|Laini Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1224474224p2/324620.jpg] is one of my favourite authors, and DoSaB, is well, what I read when I need fairy tales in my life. She writes poetry in her stories, songs of unbelievable places, creatures, and breathes in love in those with her words.
You are in for a treat, the moment you pick this book up - the elaborate verse, the narration, the wondrous use of simple words to pen a fable of magic and love - I don't think I can do justice in describing what it felt like reading this book.
You know how magnificent Taylor is when you find her fantastical story more believable than the average contemporary books. The characters, the finer details of the plot, the backstories, pretty much everything will absorb you in, right from the start. They are throbbing, real and magical, all at the same time.
And for the dreamers and utter romantics, we all need a Lazlo in our lives. The only downside would be now I'll have to wait for the sequel for more of Lazlo and Sarai.
This book is perfection, in all its senses. And that's all there is to say about it.
maeghie1408's review against another edition
5.0
« I hope you’ll let me be in your story »
This book is absolute perfection!
The world building is flawless and magical. It’s so unique - unlike anything I’ve ever read
The characters
This book is absolute perfection!
The world building is flawless and magical. It’s so unique - unlike anything I’ve ever read
The characters
hanahroberts's review against another edition
This might be a soft DNF. It was such an interesting concept but I found myself reluctant to pick it back up. Though it’s been over a week since I DNF’d and I still think about it.
iben_flor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stephanieprianka's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
hannahinpages's review against another edition
5.0
2023 REREAD:
God I love this book so bad it's not even funny.
OG 2018 REVIEW:
I finally got to reading this, as a fan of Laini Taylor, i feel shameful it's taken me so long.
I loved this book so much. Seriously. Laini Taylor has a way with story writing that captivates me. The whimsical vibe to her stories is unlike anything I've read and it never fails to make me fall in love with her books.
Strange The Dreamer is no different.
The world is probably the thing I loved the most about this book. There's so much to it and so much to explore.
The characters succeeded in capturing my heart and making me fall for them and root for them until the end.
And the ending, wow. Extremely jealous of everyone who got an ARC of Muse Of Nightmares. I need it right now, can't wait until it's released.
Laini Taylor never fails to make me love her books.
God I love this book so bad it's not even funny.
OG 2018 REVIEW:
I finally got to reading this, as a fan of Laini Taylor, i feel shameful it's taken me so long.
I loved this book so much. Seriously. Laini Taylor has a way with story writing that captivates me. The whimsical vibe to her stories is unlike anything I've read and it never fails to make me fall in love with her books.
Strange The Dreamer is no different.
The world is probably the thing I loved the most about this book. There's so much to it and so much to explore.
The characters succeeded in capturing my heart and making me fall for them and root for them until the end.
And the ending, wow. Extremely jealous of everyone who got an ARC of Muse Of Nightmares. I need it right now, can't wait until it's released.
Laini Taylor never fails to make me love her books.
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
Strange the Dreamer is a dual-perspective high fantasy novel following young librarian Lazlo Strange and the mysterious city of Weep. Weep’s true name has been stricken not only from the history books, but from everyone’s collective memory, and Lazlo has dedicated his research to discovering why that may be. One day an envoy from Weep arrives with the explicit purpose of recruiting scholars, alchemists, explosionists, and experts to help solve the mystery, and Lazlo finally gets his time to shine.
All I’ve heard about Laini Taylor is how beautiful and poetic her writing is, and I can safely say that y’all weren’t exaggerating! She has such a way with words; everything is so flowery, magical, and poetic - yet never cringeworthy or annoyingly convoluted. Most authors can string a sentence together, but Laini Taylor crafts a sentence.
And her worldbuilding is absolutely stunning. Taylor’s writing is so immersive and atmospheric - while I was listening to this on audio, I could absolutely visualise Lazlo’s library and the city of Weep right down to the colours and smells! Laini Taylor really transports you through the page to the world that she’s created, and it’s a talent that so few authors possess.
While this book is technically billed as a fantasy there’s a strong pulsing vein of mystery pervading the story, and Taylor does an incredible job of building the mystery. There’s a fine line that authors tread in trying to keep audiences guessing, and Taylor kept me wondering “what on earth is going on?” rather than getting annoyed and confused and thinking “okay dude, what the fuck is going on?”
Part of the mystery lies in the narration of the story, in a device I don’t see often enough in speculative fiction: Strange the Dreamer is dual perspective, but you don’t learn who the second narrator is until a quarter of the way through the story! It’s not till the second narrator’s shocking identity is revealed that you begin to grasp what the mystery of Weep actually entails, and the plot thickens from there.
And without spoiling any of the mystery or mythology, I am in freakin’ LOVE with our mysterious migrants to Weep and can’t wait to find out more of their origins in the next story!!
The only negatives I have to mention are that there is a strong theme of sexual abuse and rape. While none of it is occurring in the story in real time, it plays a strong part in the history and background of many of the characters and is difficult to read.
I also took issue with some slight instalove in the latter third of the novel - however I do anticipate that the second book will elaborate on this and explain the intense connection between two of the characters.
Overall: Strange the Dreamer is beautiful and absolutely deserving of every bit of praise it’s received! It’s vibrant, atmospheric, beautiful, passionate, poetic, explosive, ethereal, and mysterious and I’ve never read a book or explored a fictional world quite like this! It kept me on the edge of my seat as we got closer and closer to the mystery of Weep, and doled out enough mystery to keep me hooked for Book 2. This is the most unique book I’ve read all year, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
All I’ve heard about Laini Taylor is how beautiful and poetic her writing is, and I can safely say that y’all weren’t exaggerating! She has such a way with words; everything is so flowery, magical, and poetic - yet never cringeworthy or annoyingly convoluted. Most authors can string a sentence together, but Laini Taylor crafts a sentence.
And her worldbuilding is absolutely stunning. Taylor’s writing is so immersive and atmospheric - while I was listening to this on audio, I could absolutely visualise Lazlo’s library and the city of Weep right down to the colours and smells! Laini Taylor really transports you through the page to the world that she’s created, and it’s a talent that so few authors possess.
While this book is technically billed as a fantasy there’s a strong pulsing vein of mystery pervading the story, and Taylor does an incredible job of building the mystery. There’s a fine line that authors tread in trying to keep audiences guessing, and Taylor kept me wondering “what on earth is going on?” rather than getting annoyed and confused and thinking “okay dude, what the fuck is going on?”
Part of the mystery lies in the narration of the story, in a device I don’t see often enough in speculative fiction: Strange the Dreamer is dual perspective, but you don’t learn who the second narrator is until a quarter of the way through the story! It’s not till the second narrator’s shocking identity is revealed that you begin to grasp what the mystery of Weep actually entails, and the plot thickens from there.
And without spoiling any of the mystery or mythology, I am in freakin’ LOVE with our mysterious migrants to Weep and can’t wait to find out more of their origins in the next story!!
The only negatives I have to mention are that there is a strong theme of sexual abuse and rape. While none of it is occurring in the story in real time, it plays a strong part in the history and background of many of the characters and is difficult to read.
I also took issue with some slight instalove in the latter third of the novel - however I do anticipate that the second book will elaborate on this and explain the intense connection between two of the characters.
Overall: Strange the Dreamer is beautiful and absolutely deserving of every bit of praise it’s received! It’s vibrant, atmospheric, beautiful, passionate, poetic, explosive, ethereal, and mysterious and I’ve never read a book or explored a fictional world quite like this! It kept me on the edge of my seat as we got closer and closer to the mystery of Weep, and doled out enough mystery to keep me hooked for Book 2. This is the most unique book I’ve read all year, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
chloelai12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
tafeeeeee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It took me a long time to borrow this from my library and start listening, but I was hooked from the start. I didn't plan to immediately jump into the next book but after that ending, I have to.
janelle_chen's review against another edition
5.0
It is 1:52 am and I am broken. I can't even fathom the worrrddssss to describe how amazing this was. It was beautiful and poetic, but also earth shattering. It starts off with Lazlo Strange an orphan Librarian who studies the useless unseen city or Weep. Until one day it's not useless. It's been resurrected and in need or bright scholars to save it's city from something... I absolutely recommend this 100% to anyone with a heart, or decency because man. You are missing out. I'm going to go cry now bye guys.