Strange the Dreamer
(Strange the Dreamer Book #1, By: Laini Taylor)
SUMMARY:
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?
Welcome to Weep.
Published March 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
REVIEW:
I gave this book 3.5 stars. The beginning started out extremely slow. Honestly, had it not been for my obsession with Laini Taylor (from her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy) I probably wouldn't have made it past the 25% mark. That said, once the plot started picking up, I was able to finish it and enjoy it.
As always, Laini's world building and creativity are beyond ordinary and delve deep into realms I've never explored before. You will find yourself thinking throughout the book, "How in the world did she come up with this idea?" The story is so unique and unlike anything else you will find on shelves today, and that alone draws you in. The book kept me guessing as to what would happen until the very end, and while the pacing was slow at times, I didn't end up minding it all that much.
Also (as expected with a book written by Laini) her BEAUTIFUL writing was on full display in this book and did not disappoint. The way shes sees the world, and her talent in explaining it is breathtaking. The linguistic talent she brings to this book and the delicious wording is what bumped it up to 3.5 stars.
While the writing was beautiful, the POV fell short. The book is written in third person omniscient and...meh. The all knowing point of view made me feel as if I was listening to a narrator reading me a fairy-tale story. While it was beautiful and creative, it took me a step away from feeling like I was actually involved in the world. It was too all-knowing and telling for my taste, ultimately making my connections with the characters and their arcs much less personal.
The main characters themselves were lovely, however due to the nature of their world and their inexperience within it, they felt very young (much more middle grade than young adult). This made it hard for me to connect with them or their romance in the way I was looking to with a young adult book.
Overall, the story was beautiful and well written. It was the lack of connection with the characters that really took away stars. Still, I look forward to the next book in the series and seeing what happens to Lazlo.
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