“He drifted about with his head full of myths, always at least half lost in some otherland of story. Demons and wingsmiths, seraphim and spirits, he loved it all.” 


This book is so beautiful and fantastical but what I really makes me love it and what I think will make everyone fall in love with it is Lazlo.

Lazlo is our MC and the book shows him as a child suffering under the control of monks and playing make believe, always listening to stories and tales he's a dreamer from the start. Laini has created such a just wonderful character in Lazlo, he's a librarian and loves myths and tales, he has a childs heart even though he's been through so many things that could have hardened him. 

“He read while he walked. He read while he ate. The other librarians suspected he somehow read while he slept, or perhaps didn't sleep at all.” 

When people ask me how I read so many books ^^ here's your answer like Lazlo I don't sleep, my blood is pure caffeine at this point.

Lazlo is kind which doesn't sound like a big enough word to describe just how soul deep his goodness runs, he's selfless and just friendly I had never read a character like him and now I need more. Gimme all the kind lovely librarians I'll buy every book if someone tells me the main charcater is like Lazlo. 

The writing is just a whole different level. The world building is on point, there's beautiful lucid dreaming, gods, good vs evil, the theme of can one thing be only good or evil. Magic and alchemists, explosions and creations. 

The tale of Weep is a tragic one, ruled by "Gods" and enslaved for years the humans finally defeated them but couldn't remove the citadel that floated above their city or the hurt in their peoples hurts and minds. 

That's all I'm saying because you really should experience the magic yourself, the frekin just beautifulness of this story slowly unraveling and coming together. 

I have to be honest it did take me a while to read this, I read the first half so slowly but as soon as I got past the 250 page mark I was in love and couldn't put it down, every character had my hooked. 



I'm planning on re-reading this asap so I'll come back for a more detailed review but I love it all and need more stars.

Thank you Netgalley for an earc and hurry up Amazon I want this beauty in my hands already *hearteyes*

Laini Taylor is one of those absolute gems that consistently release extremely high quality novels. Admittedly, I have quite a narrow pool of auto-buy authors, mostly because I'm picky about what books that I buy (limited shelf space, you know the feel). Laini Taylor is one of those authors whose books I will certainly not hesitate to grab for that precious shelf space.

Strange the Dreamer took what high expectations I had for Laini Taylor and lifted them even higher. I love her writing; it's just absolutely gorgeous. I could easily see myself reading this book time and time again, coming back to the spectacularly magical world that she has created. If anyone has read Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, Strange the Dreamer reminded me of that novel, and if you enjoyed that book I would certainly recommend giving Strange a go as well (although to be honest, I'd recommend that you read Strange regardless, because it is magnificent).

Such fantastic ideas emerge from Laini Taylor's brain. I thought it would be difficult to top Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but Strange the Dreamer is certainly at least on par (please don't ask me to choose between them, it's too hard).

I hesitate to mention anything about the actual substance of the novel, because it's one of those novels where it's completely fine to go in blind (as I did) and just enjoy what you're reading. I knew nothing about the characters or the world, and was still spellbound from page one.

Honestly, Strange the Dreamer was basically a flawless novel. Actually, I take that back, there is a flaw, and that's the fact that the book ended on a monstrous cliffhanger and now we have to wait for the sequel. I'm pretty sure everyone who read the book is now curled up on the floor willing themselves to hibernate to wait out the winter until The Muse of Nightmares is released.

(Also sidenote: I bought the first edition hardback. It's actually so beautiful with its blue stained pages and Laini's moth illustrations (and signature). Would 100% recommend you get it, or the Aussie paperback edition which also has these bonus features, if you're a fan.)

(And yes, I realise all the above sounds more like the words of a raving fangirl than a proper review, but I'm totally okay with that haha)

Ratings
Overall: 10/10
Plot: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book because the writing style was too hard to get into. Furthermore, the sudden appearance of side characters made me feel so confused. I was already attached to Lazlo and his chapters, so I lost interest when I was forced to read the story from other point of views. I plan to give this book a second chance when I purchase a physical copy.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor was a fascinating look into a world (aka fantasy) I don't visit much in reading.

Another great Laini Taylor book! She's always writing books that are that little bit different & absolutely wonderful to read.

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.

**Thank you to Hachette Australia and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of the book in return for an honest review.

5 amazing stars!!!

“You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."

“Beautiful and full of monsters?"

“All the best stories are.” 

I have absolutely no words to even describe this book. The concept is so original and creative. The worldbuilding was so intricate and complex. The writing was just lyrical. I haven't read any other books by Laini Taylor but I'll definitely be doing so after this one. I just love her ability of creating worlds and characters that are so mesmerizing and deep. I relished every description, page and word. I was just swept away into this dreamy world whether anything was possible.

As to the characters, they are so endearing. I absolutely adored Lazlo and Sarai. The romance was just beautiful. It gave me all the feels. I just wanted to read more about them and their story. Even as separate characters, they were fleshed out and engaging. I equally enjoyed the minor characters' roles. This book was just beautifully developed and it was just flawless.

I can't really explain what it is, you have to read the book to understand what it is about and the feelings that go with it. I encourage everyone to just go grab a copy of it, you won't be dismayed. I can't wait to read the sequel. When does it come out? :D

Sometimes you fall in love with a book immediately. The language draws you in and creates a spellbinding picture and you get lost in the author's world. This is one of those books.

Lazlo Strange is an orphan, raised by monks until a chance incident finds him in the Great Library, and he never leaves. A book of fairy tales falls and breaks his nose, and he starts investigating the mysterious city known as Weep. As a boy he knew its name, and played at being a soldier of the great Unknown City, but one day, the name of the city was lost to all.

Lazlo becomes the foremost expert on the lost city, although few know it. So when a delegation is put together to visit the great city, he knows he has to be among the chosen few. But why would a lowly librarian be chosen when there are great scholars who are far more suited to the task?

In Weep, the people are plagued by nightmares, and eternal darkness. Above Weep, the Godspawn are trying to survive boredom and imprisonment. Sarai, known to the people below as the Muse of Nightmares, visits the city each night. When she encounters a mind that can not only see her, but control its own dreams, she's fascinated.

Laini Taylor's masterful use of language creates a spellbinding and compelling story that draws you in and envelops you in a magical world where fairy tales just might exist. Though like most fairy tales, there's no guarantee of a happy ending.

I've heard this book criticised on a couple of fronts - 

It's slow - that's true, there's a hell of a lot of world building and back story, but that's not an issue for me because Laini's writing is so utterly beautiful that as far as I'm concerned, the more the better.

It's a chosen one story. It is. But I love a chosen one story, and always have. If they're not your cup of tea then you might find yourself not enjoying this quite as much as I did.

The ending is a bit obvious - It won't be for everyone, and again, even though I could see a lot of it coming, I still cried buckets (that's not a spoiler, I cry equally at happy and sad endings if they're good enough!).

A beautiful new world has been created in Strange the Dreamer, and I can't wait to see more of it in future books.

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.

This book is gorgeous, inside and out. 

Full review at the attached link.

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*

Strange the Dreamer is Lani Taylor’s new novel thats set in a world where the aftermath of war between the gods and men is occurring. The characters, a young librarian named Lazlo who has a single dream, a girl fraught with danger and a crypted mythic hero are unleashed on the world. 

This book follows Taylor’s usual descriptive and some what intense world building that makes you intrigued right from the word go. Aside from the usual themes of alchemy, monsters, love and a whole lot of blood the real portion of this book that captivated me was the characters. 

Lazlo Strange was raised by Monks and has a vivid imagination, which comes from his passion for reading and always having his nose stuck in a book. Lazlo sets off on a mission across Weep and that’s when the real character development begins. 

Overall the vagueness of the synopsis is a blessing as this book is one big twisted masterpiece. Strange the Dreamer is a must read for everyone who enjoys powerful characters and unique fantasy settings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and rated it  4.5/5 stars as the lingo in the first portion of the book can be quite confusing but like most Lani Taylor books everything makes perfect sense in the end.

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!!