Strange the Dreamer

By: Laini Taylor

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 18 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

A new epic fantasy by National Book Award finalist and New York Times best-selling author Laini Taylor of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.

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 200 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 best-selling 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.

©2017 Laini Taylor (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"Characters are carefully, exquisitely crafted, the writing is achingly lovely, and the world is utterly real.... This is a thing to be savored." ( Booklist)

"Lovers of intricate worldbuilding and feverish romance will find this enthralling." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Narrator Steve West's British accent and measured pacing lend a feeling of gravitas to this fantasy.... Epic in scope but intimate in details, this production will leave listeners waiting for the next installment." ( AudioFile)

Great until the ending

I really enjoyed this book right up until the last few chapters, which just felt drawn out unnecessarily. There was a point at which I was screaming in my head “just get to the point and tell us what happened!” And the ending felt so...unsatisfied and wrong. I know Laini Taylor is setting it up for a sequel but this didn’t leave me with a feeling of suspense or “oh I can’t wait for the next book”. It made me want to chuck my phone across the room in anger and disgust. Really disappointed.

I gave the book 3* overall because for the most part, it’s a well written, engaging book. But the ending ruined it for me.

47 of 47 people found this review helpful

It has a good possibility of a story

The lead up had some promise but it was drowned in chapters of lovers sentiment. The climax was predictable and the end lacking. I won't be reading the second but thanks for the bright world.

28 of 29 people found this review helpful

Meh

Not exactly thrilled by sudden grinding halt just when it was getting interesting to have chapters on chapters of YA style romance. I would've enjoyed it more without the genre switch in the middle.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Good base story, but a little too YA

I bought this not realizing it is probably classified as a Young Adult novel. I enjoyed the story overall and the character building, but skipped through the more "teenage romance" parts. The scenery descriptions are beautiful and you definitely get a good sense of the characters strength and weaknesses. that makes up in part for the more lovey-dovey sections that tend to run on a little long.

44 of 47 people found this review helpful

Beyond excellent

This work of creative expression establishes a new level artistic prowess. Both author and narrator conspired to provide the reader with an experience of a world with another dimension while filling the familiar with depth and richness comparable to the worlds of Frodo and Alice. I'm grateful.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

Freaking Fantastical!!!

Strong World Building, Beautiful writting, memorable characters and one of the best narrations I have heard in a while. Steve West adds life and voice to Laini Taylor Hauntingly Magnificent tale.

28 of 31 people found this review helpful

Steve Waste voice makes this story

I decided to read & listen at the same time for this story. it made it really enjoyable for me and Steve's voice kept me interested. Only negative is that the reading pace can feel a little slow but that might be me since I can read faster than I listen.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Great read

What did you love best about Strange the Dreamer?

Wonderful storytelling, beautiful descriptive writing, and characters to wrap your mind around. Have read several of Laini Taylor's books in the past and have a hard time categorizing her as a "teen" fiction writer. I am far from being a teen and would definitely read the next in this series. Great to listen and escape to while gardening, cooking or doing housework, etc. Highly recommend.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Brutal Cliffhanger Ruins A Decent Story

Any additional comments?

I'm conflicted with this review, NO I'm not, it is what it is. I would probably have given this book 4 stars, but the brutal Cliffhanger ending ruined that. While I enjoyed the heck out of this book, there were some minor familiar annoyances throughout and one major, that I still don't understand. I dunno, I'll wear my Dunce cap.

The beginning was a slow burn. Lazlo's character, who's POV is told throughout the story, is a very likable character. He's got a check mark in all the boxes- kind, humble, compassionate and a "do good to all" attitude. His journey from boy to manhood, while interesting, has large portions spent on histories of the worlds and their city's. This is what slowed the beginning portion of the story down. Lazlo grows from book worm to librarian. Lazlo's wild imagination and reputation for story telling earn him the title- Strange the Dreamer. His number one passion since childhood is the city of Weep

After the beginning of the book picks up, I was knee jerked into Serie's POV. Serie is the other MC that tells us her story. Sarai, the offspring of a human and a god, was also a likable character. She is one of only five left in the world after "The Carnage". Serie along with Minya, Ruby, Feral, and Sparrow, have been living is secrecy for many years in a floating Citadel above the city of Weep.

It's back and forth between Lazlo's and Serie's POV. The transition to Serie's POV was so odd, that I thought I missed a few chapters, so I went back to listen again. After the initial introduction, the POV's between Serie and Lazlo are seamless. I found the imaginative way Lazlo and Serie found to communicate pleasantly unfold.
Once the relationships between characters truly develop the story starts to get sluggish again. What was a bit "flowery" turns full purple? The way it was executed was interesting and unique, but I could have done with a less of it.

There was the typical arch nemesis who hated everything Lazlo
The typical conflicted anti hero
The typical villain who rules by "my way or the highway"
The sweet flat characters whose names you can't remember. The opposite of sweet, but even less remarkable.

The events that unfolded were predictable, but as stated the brutal cliffhanger ruined an otherwise good book. I personally think authors that do these types of endings don't respect their readers and want to cackle "I gotcha"


The narration, by Steve West, was awesome!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Romance for young adults

Easy to listen to, but definitely written for young adults needing fantasy and romance. If I were a tween I would have loved this book, but as an adult I found myself able to predict much of the plot.

16 of 18 people found this review helpful