Strange the Dreamer

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Haven’t we all dreamt of a magical place where the fruit is juicier, the colors are brighter and the sun feels like magic on our skin? Lazlo Strange has dreams that show him memories of beautiful landscapes and mysteries of a long-lost civilization called Weep. Or at least that is what he must call it because everyone has forgotten its true name. He grows up to be a librarian and studies the lost history but always wishes to become more. He soon finds himself on a journey to find the answers he seeks in ways he never expected, dreams of a beautiful blue goddess and learns that he was closer to the answers than he could have ever imagined.

I was gifted this book by a friend a while ago, having never heard of it and it sat on my shelf for an embarrassingly long time before I finally picked it up. I really connected with the characters in this book. They all had depth and each could really stand on their own. I found myself always wanting to know more about even the side characters and their backstories. The relationships that were built between the characters on the journey were deep, emotional and they felt very natural.

Even the writing itself in this book is dreamy and magical. It transports you into a whole other world. The perspective changes between the two main characters and weaves their stories together seamlessly as the story progresses. The way that the story is told leaves so much mystery that there is no way to predict what will happen next.

The only thing that I would change about this book is that I would I wished that there was more information about the past and what had happened “before”. I think there is enough depth in the mysteries of Weep that I would read a prequel that was just filled with the stories of what happened before the city was lost. If I’m being honest, am a sucker for lost civilizations and ancient history. But that is only to say that there is so much richness in the story that I would love more of it.

This book was unlike any other that I have read. It moves differently than most and it is jarring in all the right ways. I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers of all ages and I do look forward to reading the sequel very soon. I would guess that this book will be on my sort list of favorites for the foreseeable future.

I easily give Strange the Dreamer 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Jacqui

Author: Laini Taylor
Genre: YA Fantasy
Format & Source: Paperback, Gift
Publishing Info: Little, Brown and Company