Synopsis: 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.
Review: Strange the Dreamer is a dual-perspective story where we discover the secrets of a city called Weep. I adore Lazlo. All he wants is to learn about and understand the mysteries of Weep. He is dedicated and kind. Sarai is also delightful. She loves her family, but she is open to other relations. Getting to know all of the godspawn is a good time. Laini put a lot of thought into how these characters exist and what their gifts are. We see them use their gifts multiple times in the story, so we get a good grasp of how they work.
As usual, Laini crafted a wonderful world within these pages. I liked seeing how Lazlo lived in Zosma. We see how mistreated he is, but he never lets that get the best of him. Then, when he is in Weep, he is like a kid in a candy store. We get to see his awe as he discovers this new place that he has only dreamed of. The citadel felt like an entirely different setting, even though it is also in Weep. Laini masterfully creates two different worlds within the same city.
Beautiful construction with great characters.
5 howls
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