We are so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Laini Taylor’s most recent masterpiece… before we get into out thoughts, we want to tell you about the book!
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads)Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on 2017-03
Pages: 432
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 to 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?
In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.
Welcome to Weep.
It is safe for me to say that I love everything I have ever read that Laini Taylor has written. Strange the Dreamer has been on my wish list since the second I knew she was writing it and when I got a copy of it in my hands, I may have squealed a little bit.
A great character driven story is my favorite and this book has so many great ones! Lazlo Strange grew up an orphan and I think he won me over immediately. He didn’t grow up in an easy life nor was he given every opportunity to be something but his mind and his love of books is what helped him become a junior librarian and his obsession with the lost city of Weep is what takes him on the adventure of his life.
It is because of his knowledge and obsession with the lost city of Weep that he takes a chance and does something someone of his station would never do – draw attention to himself in front of the queen by speaking out to Eril-Fane, the Godslayer and by doing so, Lazlo is invited to join his group headed to Weep. As Lazlo experiences a life very different from what he has been used to, he makes friends, learns more about himself, and begins to uncover the mysteries of Weep.
In addition to Lazlo, there is Thyon. I have very mixed feelings about him there were times I hated him and times I felt sorry for him. Even when Lazlo was just trying to help him, Thyon couldn’t help but doubt his reasons. Eril-Fane is a great character and I loved the interactions between him and Lazlo but he carries so much guilt and that really does impact his relationship with those around him.
Sarai’s is the other main perspective we have in this story. She is a blue skinned goddess who shows up in Lazlo’s dreams. I won’t say much here but her story dragged a bit for me at first. Her gift is an interesting one as it allows her to spy on the people of Weep but she also has the ability to impact their dreams (Goddess of Nightmares). It is her gift that puts her in a tough position with Minya, one of the other goddesses who live with her in the Citadel. As the book progresses, I found Sarai’s story definitely got more interesting and the ending really sealed it for me – I can’t wait to see what happens next.
I have to mention here that I truly believe that Laini Taylor is some sort of magical being. Her ability to write the stories she does and build out the worlds that she builds always amazes me and this book is right up there with her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series in both world / character development and imagery. I don’t even know what else to say here – you just have to read to understand.
I mentioned the world – well Taylor has created this story that combines humans with Gods and I loved every minute of this book. I don’t want to say much about the whole story as I don’t want to ruin any part of it for you. If you liked Taylor’s other books you should definitely read this one. It has fantastic characters, magic, and a story that will have you wondering what Taylor will do next. Definitely check this out when you can. I seriously can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
3/20: My Friends Are Fiction – Review
3/21: Alexa Loves Reading – Bookish Style Files
3/22: Mundie Moms – Review
3/23: What Sarah Read – Review
3/24: Reading Teen – Review
Week 2:
3/27: No BS Book Reviews – Makeup Collage
3/28: YA Bibliophile – Review
3/29: The Irish Banana Review – Review
3/30: Quite the Novel Idea – Review
3/31: Fiction Fare – Review
About Laini Taylor
Laini Taylor is the New York Times bestselling author of the global sensation the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight, and Dreams of Gods & Monsters, and the companion e-novella, Night of Cake & Puppets. She is also the author of the Dreamdark books Blackbringer and Silksinger, and the highly acclaimed Lips Touch: Three Times, a National Book Award finalist. Her newest book, Strange the Dreamer, is the first in a stunning new epic duology. Laini lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter Clementine.
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