Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor
[Audiobook Purchased from Audible]
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 or 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?
Review
Though this book took a little while for me to get in to, once I finally got over the hump, I was thrown into another one of Laini Taylor’s beautiful fantasies and loving every second of it.
Right from the beginning, Lazlo quickly became one of my favorite characters. I loved that he lived in a world of fantasy and dreams and I love where that “fault” ultimately led him.
More importantly, I loved Lazlo and Sarai so freaking much. Talk about an amazing fantasy meetcute!
Anyway, I think my favorite part about this novel aside from the premise and execution, was absolutely Laini’s writing. Her descriptions turn complex emotions into beautiful simplicity in a way very few authors are able to do.
There is a quote that I’ve always loved by Einstein in which he says, “If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it well enough.”
Laini must have the most vivid imagination to be able to craft a sentence of description out of something that would take other authors paragraphs.
Audiobook Performance: 5 Stars
Steve West is easily one of my favorite audiobook readers. His voice is swoony. It definitely is the type of voice that resonates in your bones.
Butterfly Rating: 3 Stars
Not too many butterflies in this one, but the romance was very beautiful.
Re-read Worthiness: Maybe
We’ll see how the next book goes!
Bookshelf Placement: Yes
Book Boyfriend Rating: 5 stars
Lazlo is one of my new favorite book boyfriends for sure!
”Free” Reading Availability
✘ Kindle Unlimited
✘ Prime Reading
✘ Audible Romance Package
(As of 2.17.18)
Great review!
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Thank you! 💜
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I have read the first two books in her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. I loved them and really need to get to the last one. I already own Strange the Dreamer and really want to get to it as well.
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I’ve read the first two books in the Smoke and Bone Trilogy, too! I don’t know why it’s taking me so long to read the last book… I own it!
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Same here! I loved the first two, so don’t know why it’s taking mw forever.
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Isn’t that weird how that works? I’ve done that with series before, but usually it’s when the series is super long and has a ton of books, I just need a break, but this is a trilogy. ::shrug::
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I’m so glad you liked this book! It was definitely one of my faves from last year. I totally agree with you that it takes a little bit to get into, but once Lazlo actually gets to Weep, I thought things really picked up. I’m so excited for the next book! Great review!
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Thank you! I knew I had to power through because I trust Laini Taylor to bring it! LOL!
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I loved this book! And I totally agree that the best thing in it is the writing. Her writing is like magic. I love the way it flows without ever seeming forced. I should definitely get to her other books sometime soon. Great review!
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That is a great way to describe her writing style, it’s so effortless!
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