I can't tell you how excited I was when requested this book - I love love love Laini Taylor and her "Daughter of Smoke & Bone" series, it remains one of the best YA series' out there. So naturally, through my excitement, I was also mildly hesitant. Would this live up to my super high expectations?

YES.

This book is beautiful, and stunning, and impossibly well written. Laini has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat, but also in a dreamlike stupor - she's just too good. Her characters are always wonderfully drawn out, and unique, flawed and interesting. Her world-building is perfectly thought out, and her ideas are always so fresh and different - when you read so much YA like I do, it is so refreshing to then read something like this which completely just raises the bar.

I am so excited to see where she takes this world. *squeal*

What started out as a very slow read ended up being a book that I struggled to put down.

Since this is my first time reading anything from Lani Taylor, I am unfamiliar to her writing style. This probably did not help me for the first third of the book as she sets up the world excellently , albeit very slowly. Strange the Dreamer follows Lazlo Strange, a junior librarian who ends up travelling to a mystical lost city called Weep.

I do not want to say too much as I feel like once I start getting into the meat of the story, you will know everything that occurs. What I will say though is that Strange the Dreamer seemed to be split into two seperate acts. Whilst the first one was, in my opinion, the most boring; it was also nessecary to set up everything else that occurs. Even after the first act finished, it was still a slow read but things start to tie together and the overall picture makes sense.

Whist a slow read, it does pick up and sink its teeth into you.

So this was my first Laini Taylor and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to pick up one of her books. She really is a literary artist because from start to finish, I felt like I was on this strange mystical adventure that I didn't want to end.

Really recommend this to anyone who loves a good YA fantasy book because it has all the tropes that make those books great: heartbreak, romance, mystery, magic, wonderful characters, drama and brilliant writing.

What a book! I feel like I have written and spoken so many reviews for Strange the Dreamer and each time I have something new to love and say! What it all pretty much boils down to is the fact that this is a beautiful book, visually and lyrically and I cannot tear myself away from it. Thank goodness I don't have long to wait until I can get a physical copy of it!

Strange the Dreamer is another of the gorgeously mythic fantasy romances that Laini Taylor excels at. However, while I enjoyed it thoroughly, it had a few flaws.

Lazlo Strange is a wonderful character likely to appeal to bookworms. He's not your usual stunningly-attractive hero. Instead, he's a bit rough around the edges and had his nose broken when a book of fairytales landed on his face--which tells you everything you need to know about Lazlo. He was a highly imaginative boy with a thirst for stories who grew into a librarian with his nose stuck in a book. Before he went adventuring, of course. He works hard and is the sort of person to offer help to his rival simply because it's needed.

The book takes us all the way from Lazlo's humble beginnings to his deeds in Weep. This allows readers to get to know Lazlo well, but makes for a slow-paced story. I usually don't mind this approach, but even I felt it was starting to drag.

It's a story full of whimsy and the mythic that Taylor does so well. She is brilliant at creating a mood and making the impossibly epic seem plausible. The descriptions were lovely with some gorgeous turns of phrase. However, a little goes a long way--another reason the pace dragged in places.

Despite its sense of whimsy, it is quite a dark story. Readers triggered by rape and forced pregnancy may want to tread cautiously. These incidents never happen onscreen, but their impact resonates throughout the book. It's a story that deals with cycles of violence and the seeming impossibility of breaking them.

Strange the Dreamer felt like it trod a lot of the same ground as Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Some of it was the structure: the slow set-up, the gradual uncovering of the past and the late explosion into action. There were also some thematic elements that cropped up, such as the preoccupation with angels and demons (here flavoured with some Hindu-inspired elements such as the appearance and titles of the gods). The trajectory of Lazlo's relationship with Sarai also felt very familiar and may be a bit too insta-love for some readers.

I was somewhat disappointed with the relationship between the female characters of this book. It's a story that barely passes the Bechdel-Wallis test, with the female characters either isolated, preoccupied with the men in their life or at odds with each other.

It may sound as if I didn't enjoy Strange the Dreamer when it actually swept me away (once it warmed up). I enjoyed the dark whimsy of it and the later stages of the book do a fantastic job of building tension. I'll definitely be watching for the next book. However, this is definitely not going to be the book for everyone.

Not surprising that Laini Taylor managed to capture me with her words. Although some of the side characters are underdeveloped and the poetic language can get tiring, I enjoyed the story. It isn't a typical fantasy filled with high stakes or battles, but a slowburning tale. The protagonist Lazlo Strange is a different type of hero and I didn't get bored of him = plus he's a librarian and dreamer, and there's Sarai, another refreshing hero who carries so much emotional weight and Minya, her total opposite and a villain who sent chills down my spine.

The ending would leave you frustrated and crying...waiting for what's to come next.

I was a little hesitant to pick up Strange the Dreamer. It is a hype book: one of those books that generates publicity and becomes immensely popular months before it is even released. In fact, this book was so popular that I thought it was already published. When I found it on Netgalley, I was so shocked. With hype books, I find they are never as good as readers make them out to be and I am left disappointed.

That cannot be said for Strange the Dreamer.

In Strange the Dreamer, Laini Taylor has created a beguiling, unique fantasy world that drew me into the story through impeccable characterisation, top-notch representations of cultures, and alluring writing. The novel follows Lazlo Strange, an orphan who grew up in a monastery but through sheer luck, finds himself working as a junior librarian in the Kingdom of Zosma’s magnificent library. For years Lazlo grows up amongst the books with his head in the clouds and earns the epithet, Strange the Dreamer. It is here that Lazlo begins writing a treatise on his life-long obsession, the mysterious city of Weep. 15 years ago, the name of this mythical city was stolen from everyone’s minds and anyone who travels to this Unseen City never returns. Lazlo is infatuated by this magical city and, when a delegate known as the Godslayer arrives in Zosma looking for scientists and scholars to help the city of Weep, Lazlo knows this is his only chance to escape his humdrum life and discover what exactly happened to Weep all those years ago.

I didn’t know what to expect going into this book. The only other Laini Taylor book I have read is Daughter of Smoke and Bone and, while I enjoyed it immensely, I did not have the desire to finish the series. But what I found in this novel was a fantastical book world like none other and I am now cursing myself for not reading Taylor’s other novels (I see a trip to the library in my future).

The plot of Strange the Dreamer was both fascinating and mind-boggling and I could not put the book down once the story began to develop. The story was so intricate and detailed that I was in a constant state of awe, tension and excitement, perched on the very edge of my seat. At its core, Strange the Dreamer is a book about gods – their origin story: Where did they come from? What do they want? How can we get rid of them? – and the lengths a supressed people will go to in order to escape from the under the thumb of their oppressors. The story is also about a young man who wants so much more from his life, and a young woman who just wants to be normal. Strange the Dreamer is a richly imaginative novel and I can honestly say I have never come across something like this before.

I don’t want to give much more about the plot away. I truly believe the reason I loved this book so much was because I didn’t know anything about it. The synopsis is purposely vague and that is most definitely a good thing: it allows the reader to go into this wonderful tale and experience all the tension and surprise you wouldn’t have felt if you knew anything more.

It is not often that I connect with a male protagonist; in fact, it is rare that I would. But I loved Lazlo and the emotional connection I felt with him was genuine. Lazlo is a dreamer and he wants so much more from his life than what he has been given. He loves books, (he even reads while he is walking and has knocked into more than a few walls), he has a healthy knowledge for fairy-tales, and he is compassionate and wants to help people – even someone who takes advantage of him. Lazlo is a nerdy sweetheart who blushes when he sees a girl’s collarbones but wants to go on an epic adventure and live life to the fullest. He is a wonderful protagonist and I can see everyone falling in love with him.

Sarai is the other protagonist and she touched my heart deeply. Sarai lives half a life: she is sequestered with her family in a citadel, hiding from the city of Weep below because if they knew she existed, they would kill her. She is known as the Muse of Nightmares and she spends her nights invading the minds of the sleeping people of Weep, implanting nightmares in their heads for the acts they committed fifteen years ago. But along the way, Sarai comes to care for the humans and discerns that her family were complicit in committing terrible sins against the people of Weep for over two hundred years. She is torn between hating them and loving them. But when she meets Lazlo, she is forced to make a decision once and for all.

Taylor’s writing style was superb and you can easily get lost in the flow of her beautiful sentences. The prose is almost poetic and perfectly complements the tone of the novel. Her writing encourages that magical feeling of the novel and you feel like Lazlo – like you are lost in a dream. It is so easy to be absorbed into this magical world and Taylor’s writing quickly transports you there. My experience reading this book is very similar to the experience I had reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s books are magic-made-real and the reader sits in rigid tension, frantically flipping the pages to find out what they hell happens next. I had that same feeling with Strange the Dreamer.

I want to write so much more about this book but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I finished this book with a million questions that I just know are going to be answered in the second and final novel. This is not your typical YA book: it is clever and makes you think. It delves deeper than the immediate plot to pose queries into that eternal, timeless question that might just be answered by looking at the cosmos: Is there anyone out there?

I received an earc of Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor from Hachette Australia via NetGalley for review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Strange the Dreamer was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I wasn’t disappointed. The world is magical and intriguing, the characters are addicting and the writing just pulls you right in. When you start you are in for a ride and it’s breathtaking.

Strange the Dreamer follows Lazlo Strange and Sarai. Both from very different worlds, very different situations. They have been brought up to believe very different things and I was intrigued by both of them.

Lazlo is the guy that wins my heart. I adored his love for books and learning and finding out more. Lazlo is very innocent and I loved seeing that, it’s rare that we see a male character in YA that is obvious to the world and how things work. His lived with monks his whole life, and things like girls and the outside world are way over his head. But, as Strange the Dreamer went on, the reader is able to see Lazlo grow. He doesn’t just start to trust and believe in himself, but others around him. Lazlo character development throughout the novel was excellent and I am hanging to see where his character goes.

Sarai was hard to connect with at first, but as the novel went on and more is revealed, I began to love her. Sarai much like Lazlo is very innocent in a way. Yes, Sarai has witness some horrible events and being brought up without an ‘adult’ it’s hard for her. But, like Lazlo, she lacks human interaction. What I also loved about Sarai is that she isn’t the ‘strong’ protagonist, but she also isn’t the damsel is distress either – she had to hold her ground.

I don’t think that Laini Taylor can ever go wrong with the worlds that she builds. At first, it’s always hard to grasp, but as the novels go on, everything falls into place. With so many layers, I don’t know how she can’t get lost, however as a reader you are dropped in and taken to another place and it doesn’t feel wrong. I love how we don’t find out everything out at once, however, it was ever so slightly info-dumpy in the first couple of chapters – nothing major.

I loved the many aspects of the world and how we didn’t miss out on much because we are with two protagonists in different sides of this world. We meet lots of characters that all have different stories to tell. This was sometimes a little hard to come around – because there were so many characters. However as the novel went on, I figured out who was who most of the time.

One of those characters was Minya – and holy she was crazy. But, so intriguing all at the same time. In saying that, the whole ‘family’ was intriguing all I wanted to do is find out more.

The romance side of Strange the Dreamer wasn’t exactly my favourite as it was a little instalovey, but holy was it good. I didn’t just fall in love with Lazlo and Sarai individually, but together. My heart. I loved that they were innocent but explored at the same time. I loved how they interacted and how beautiful it was.

At first, I found Strange the Dreamer to be a little slow, not heavily, but just enough that I wanted a little jump start. But as soon as things started to pick up, I was absorbed and couldn’t stop myself from reading.

Not only does Strange the Dreamer have a beautiful world and characters, the writing is exquisite. You are not only taking to a different world, with the book, but the writing carries you along the way.

The ending. I don’t want to talk about it. Can I forget that it has happened? Can I believe that everything will be a-okay in the next book? Probably not and I cannot wait.

Overall, Strange the Dreamer was addicting. It explores the notion of family, friendship and finding out who you are. With a world that is built with layer upon layer, you will be begging to find out more. With its beautiful writing and characters that will take you by storm, it’s an adventure you want to be on. Strange the Dreamer is poignant, heart-stopping and you will not be able to put it down.

Trigger Warning: Just a little warning for the book, there is mention of rape and suicide. Nothing overly graphic, but there is some scenes where it is talked about.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Here is the link to the review on my blog. It was published today (12th March).
https://duskangelreads.com/2017/03/12/strange-the-dreamer-spoiler-free-review/

This is the only place where my review will be published however I have posted links to this review & tagged ,where available, to Hachette Australia on my Facebook (@duskangelreads), Twitter (@duskangelreads), Instagram (@duskangelreads) & Goodreads (@duskangelreads).

Title: Strange The Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Series Name: Strange The Dreamer
Genre: Fantasy YA
Publication Date: March 28th, 2017
Pages:
Publishers: Hachette Australia
Rating:

*Image of 5 Stars*

*Thank you to Hachette Australia & NetGalley - I received an eBook in return for an honest review*
*All opinions are my own & 100% honest*
You can pre-order a copy of this book from Hachette Australia or Book Depository, just click the links.

*UK Cover Image*

Writing:

This is the first book I have read by Laini Taylor and I have always heard that her writing is amazing and I 100% agree! The way she describes things is just beautiful and her writing drew me in straight away! I loved that she used Multi POV in this book as well. How she wrote from both Sarai & Lazlo's characters POV made the chapter feel different as if we were actually seeing and feeling things from that person's perspective. That is the one thing that always annoys me with some Multi POV books is that it is hard to distinguish between different characters, each character has a personality and a way that they see the world, writing from their POV should show that and in this books case is definitely did!
Plot:

Firstly I want to say that I have seen a lot of mixed reviews about this book and the main thing seems to be that people are confused at what was going on, I wasn't in the slightest! Of course at the start there was going to be parts where you don't understand what is happening but that is because the Author is setting the scene and to me everything fell into place in this book.

I loved the plot completely! There was never a predictable part of this book either, I was forever guessing what might come next and I can honestly say that I was only right once or twice! Especially the ending, it was so different from what I was expecting. It ended on a massive cliffhanger as well and I have no idea what is going to happen! I need the next book already and this book hasn't even came out yet!!

Characters:

There wasn't a character in this book that I didn't enjoy or that I didn't think fitted. They were all perfect. Sarai & Lazlo are the two main characters and I really enjoyed reading from their point of view. Lazlo is just amazing, different and such a dreamer! Anything is possible when it comes to Lazlo! Sarai is so kind but also trapped and you just want someone to help her and the others in the Citadel!

Sparrow, Ruby & Feral are so interesting and I loved reading about them, Ruby is so defiant and speaks her mind at times, Sparrow was a little more shy, but also really kind and thoughtful and I loved that she bought a bit of happiness to the rest of them. Feral, I still don't really know how to think of him, he felt more standoffish than the others. I did enjoy his character but he is still kind of a mystery to me.

Minya was a whole other story, I 100% understand why she is the way that she is but at the same time you just want her trust Sarai's perspective and allow herself a bit of joy in life.

Eril-Fane and the whole of Weep, I have a similar view as I do to Minya, I get why they see the world like that and why Eril-Fane especially did what he did, but at the same time I hope that they will find it in themselves to be more open.

Over All:

I really enjoyed this book! Everything about it is just beautiful and interesting! The second book in the series The Muse of Nightmares doesn't come out until 2018 and it sucks that I have to wait so long before I can read it too! But Strange The Dreamer is definitely a book I see myself rereading, especially when the next book comes out. And also another side note, that book cover is gorgeous!! The cover above is the UK edition, but the US edition is beautiful as well!

*US Cover Image*

I saw this on netgalley after having abandoned the site for over a year (not enough time to read), and jumped on it. It felt good to be honest to know that I wouldn't have a heavy bag filled with a big book for once (the only plus side of ebooks, otherwise I'm a paperback/hardbacker through and through). And it was Strange the Dreamer! by Laini Taylor! Even though I still haven't gotten around to finishing the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, there is one thing I have always loved about Laini Taylor, it's the way she uses her words. I haven't seen many YA authors who write as beautifully as Laini Taylor, nor as creatively. She's poetic without being poetic (if that makes sense). She's also incredible metaphoric, which can be both a good thing or a bad thing. It's all subjective. I was, am always going to be intrigued by the way Laini Taylor writes, though I never want to aspire to her style, because it's both wonderful and also can come across as a bit odd sometimes. By odd I mean, Laini Taylor has a unique way of phrasing some things that were it someone else, they might have been criticized.
Anyway.

I really loved this story! It was long, definitely was, but like always there’s something about Laini Taylor’s words that hold me on to reading more!

<b><u>What I Think</b></u>

a) Beautiful writing! And Lazlo Strange has got to be one of my favourite dreamers in any book I've read. I loved him. He’s your typical, from rags to riches story (well not quite riches in this case), from dreaming to doing. In the beginning we’re introduced to a dreamer, who does nothing more than go through a library, reading through all of it, than going out and physically exploring the world. He has an absolute fascination with this place he calls the ‘Unseen City’ and to which everyone else calls ‘Weep’. I love that he’s also not your typical beautiful but nerdy guy, but has a face described as a brute yet has a mind full of dreams he can’t reach. Well I loved him right until the last 10%. His personality got a bit askewed, while I can understand the reason, I suppose I just want to read Muse of Nightmares just to see Lazlo's dreaminess again.

b) The first half is written beautifully. I love the narration, it was storytelling on a level that you might see in a Robin Hobb book, but for a YA audience. It's wonderfully woven and Lazlo Strange is well fleshed out, as is the world he exists. I just wish the second half had more of a focus on Lazlo's development than the romance, but the romance was beautiful too. A bit instalove, but it's in distinct Laini Taylor style!

c) As beautiful as this is told, there are some things that could have been further developed. It's no wonder I'm dying for Muse of Nightmares! Because I just want to know about all the other relationships between Lazlo and other characters, and what happen to them, like I"d like to see more of it. Hint A: Tyhon Nero for example (I've spelt that wrong I think). I love the contrast and conflict between Nero and Lazlo, but I want to see more of them. There are also others I’d like to see more of, like the relationship between the Godslayer, Sarai, and others. And I still want to know more about Minya.

d) The world is really amazing. It’s pretty well built compared to a lot of other YA, though there are still a few things I wanted to know. So how exactly are the moths a part of Sarai? Or rather, she’s described having a hundred moths and counts when moths go missing, though at other times, the number doesn’t change, so did that mean she regained one moth? And if so, how did that happen? So I was a little confused there.

<b><u>Overall</b></u>
I probably have more to say, but right now, the ending feeling, the one that overwhelms me the most, is how much I want to read <b>Muse of Nightmares</b> now.

Wow! This book is so beautiful - I just finished reading it and am just amazed by how much the story moved me. While I loved Laini's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series I have to say that Strange the Dreamer blows it away - I have not cried so much about a book in a very long time. I definitely recommend reading this book - it will blow you away and I cannot wait for the next one!!

A really lovely work, thematically similar to her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. Taylor has a lyrical style, which is well suited to this storytelling, and builds characters the reader quickly comes to care about. I appreciate the diverse characters and settings in her work as well. A pair of lovers drawn together by fate, to play a pivotal role in the resolution of the struggle of the city now known as Weep to finally free themselves of the vestige of the tyranny of the gods. The story touches on long held enmity beyond reason, and prejudices about class, race, beauty, and strength. A very strong work with the end being a giant cliffhanger which means I will be eagerly waiting for the sequel.

DNF just over 50%.
I found Strange the Dreamer extremely confusing and boring. I had no idea what was going on. I don't know who half the characters are as there's just so many and it flicks between the characters. I feel like I missed something. None of the characters are relatable (probably because I didn't know who was who).
I really liked the poetic writing style. There's plenty of worldbuilding, but it comes off a little info-dumpy. I think this book is for a certain type of reader, and unfortunately that's not me.

This book was unlike anything I've ever read. Which is saying a lot because I've read a lot of books. The idea of following your dreams and staying true to yourself shines through thanks to the books' true hero Lazlo. I won't say anymore than that because I want everyone who reads this book to have no idea where it's going, because not knowing what is coming next isn't a bad thing, especially not with this book.

WOW! Just Wow! This was brilliant, I haven't read anything like this before, I bloody well enjoyed the way it was written and the characters. I am blown away. I can not wait to re read it again, I am looking forward to reading other books from this author!

This story was amazing! I didn't know what to expect when I started and it didn't take me long to realise it was going to be an awesome story. The writing style engaged me immediately, kind of reminded me of Jaclyn Moriarty's 'Colours of Madeleine' series.... whimsical and dreamy and full of magic.
Lazlo, known as the Librarian, was a fantastic character and it was so rewarding watching him grow and develop throughout the story, up until the end when he was so strong and brave and kind of broke my heart.
There were so many great characters in this story, good and evil..... and the mystery slowly revealed itself although I did have a sneaky suspicion half way through which turned out to be correct!
The ending was not what I expected and it makes the wait for book two so much harder.

Wow, what can I say about Strange the Dreamer, except that I loved it from start to finish? I enjoyed this story even more than The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Taylor has created an amazing mythology and a host of vibrant, delightful characters with whom I gloried to spend several hours of my time. I don't want to give away anything, but I can say that I adored the imagery and the lyrical prose, and I spent the whole book on tenterhooks, waiting to see what would happen. Naturally, this will be a series, so Taylor has left us on quite a cliffhanger. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for the next instalment. If you enjoy YA fantasy with amazing world building and a suspenseful, intriguing plot, then Strange the Dreamer is the tale for you.

Tragedy, thy name is Weep.

My god, what a story. Be warned, this is a really slow burn novel, but if you get through all the way to the end, I can guarantee you some really good feels!

Lazlo is an orphan librarian who doesn't seem to belong anywhere at all until a delegation to Weep, the lost or Unseen City, comes his way. Only just managing to be a part of it, it seems like all of his dreams are about to come true.

Sarai is one of five individuals stuck in a citadel, largely ruled by Minya, someone who is older than them all, but resides in the body of a six year old girl. Each person in the tower has some sort of power. Minya's is to hold ghosts and keep them from their own afterlife in death.

There is definitely a sense of two separate stories going on in this novel, which is possibly why it all takes so long to set up. And although Lazlo and Sarai do meet up and interact, their two stories remain very separate all the way through to the end.

As well as two protagonists, there is a strong antagonist facing each of these two main characters. In Sarai's case, that person is Minya. In Lazlo the Strange, his antagonist (for no good reason I might add, since Lazlo constantly goes out of his way to help him) is Thyon Nero. Honestly, of the two, I found I liked Thyon a little bit more. He is passionate and strong but, ultimately ineffective.

Minya, on the other hand, is just creepy! I will say, however, that Laini Taylor did a good job of almost redeeming her in the end.

This book is the first part of a duology and ends in a cliffhanger.

Strange the Dreamer is without a doubt one of the most highly anticipated young adult books for 2017. The cover is incredibly dazzling, the plot is wondrously adventurous and relatable (for a lover of books) while the mystery of Weep just yearns to be told. I was really waiting for this book, crossing off the days in my mind and I was tremendously excited a few weeks ago when I received an advanced copy of this book. One thing I was surprised about was how large of a book it was. I suppose being a duology means there's more of a story to tell when you have to fit it into two books so I'm happy it's so big.

Honestly, one thing I can complain about with this book (for the sake of being picky) is that I found the book confusing at times for the first 20% of the story. I had a good idea as to what the story was about but the layout wasn't great for establishing what time the chapters were happening (since a portion of the story was a flashback) and then it started switching to another character's perspective. It was easy to catch up to what was happening after a few sentences but I'd like to see a clear change in time/character in the final book and physical copy since it keeps the story progressing without pulling a reader out to think - whose mind am I in now or what time is this taking place?

Strange the dreamer. Lazlo Strange is the fantastic main character of this book and was born an orphan of war with no true identity or past to mark his place in the world. I love that he was a junior librarian but I found it so quirky how librarians and books were treated in this world. I also found it very cool that he cared so much for the knowledge found in those places and worked extremely hard to produce his own books and learn to read on his own. He took an amazing journey throughout this book, made friends, discovered horrible but necessary truths and I'm so happy about who he ended up being at the end of it all.

You know what, Thyon Nero is a jerk. That's all I want to say but I will say more. I'm sure he's a little redeemable towards the end of the book but I just didn't want to acknowledge him because he was so rude to Lazlo! And to top it off, he bends Lazlo's books and throws them on the ground! That is just unacceptable and it shows his character as a person/book abuser! Yeah, he was pretty good with the chemicals and the mixing of substances but Lazlo was the key to his discoveries and he just treats him like dirt for most of the book.

The godspawn: Minya, master of the dead. Ruby, kindler of flames. Sparrow, grower of nature. Feral, controller of weather. Then Sarai, the daughter of Isagol, goddess of despair. She's the most important one of them for the story because Sarai has the gift of entering people's dreams and controlling them. That comes in great use for her throughout the book but it's also her biggest weakness. Lazlo's story was interesting, but the mystery of the godspawn children was so much more fascinating once they were introduced.

It might sound wonderful at first, children of gods with powers and a citadel high above the ground but, in reality, they're prisoners living on scraps and reserved to a life waiting for the inevitable end. Their home is frozen in time ever since Skathi, the god who controlled the buildings and the floating city, died so they survive but without any hope of thriving. They don't think they'll ever experience anything from the ground or other people until the dreaded Godslayer Eril-Fane, that killed every god, goddess and godspawn but them fifteen years ago, returns to bring the Citadel down. I loved the chapters that featured these young gods and goddesses the most because they were such great characters and their world was so interesting!

About halfway through the book, those two sides started to merge and it was all super exciting. I could talk about this book for a while but then this review would be way too long so I just want to focus on how awesome the whole book is, basically it's all great! The majority of the characters were fantastically built and either lovable or hated for me without an in between. I loved the idea of these children of terrible gods and goddesses being up above the city and one man finding his way to them and I also loved that this man was so much more than he seemed. I'm glad that things happened the way they did but the ending was really very surprising. Of course, it was clear that some of those things were definitely going to happen but I didn't see it all coming and that's always fantastic when a story can surprise you and make you feel an array of emotions.

Now I have so many questions, like what are behind those other rooms in the Citadel? Where are the others? Can he save her? And what will happen next?! I've never read a book by Laini Taylor before but I really enjoyed her writing style. The book was mostly set in third person while it juggled all of the characters but it was also a little like a story Lazlo wrote for us when little paragraphs spoke to the reader. I can't help but rate this book five stars because it completely ensnared me in the dream of it all. I'm totally a fan of her work now and I can't wait for the second book in this duology because it's titled The Muse of Nightmares! That is such an impressive title just like the first and I wonder if the cover will be a brilliant red for Sarai or something else totally gorgeous?