Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1)

by Laini Taylor

[nightingalereads]

3.75 stars

Wow. Okay, um, how to sum up Strange the Dreamer. Initially, a lot of people told me to go into this book knowing nothing. But I probably would've picked it up a lot sooner if I'd been given a vague (non-spoilerly) premise. So here's one, in case you're flip-flopping about whether or not to read Strange:

Strange the Dreamer is about an orphan boy named Lazlo Strange who grows up fascinated by the ancient city of Weep, a place that has lost its true name. Working in a huge library, Lazlo lives on stories and fairytales about "the Unseen City". As events unfold, he falls into a world full of gods and warfare, legends and tragedy. This story also belongs to Sarai, a girl hidden in the sky who is connected to this mysterious tragedy of Weep. Eventually their stories begin to merge, and that's when things really pick up speed.

So, like I said, Strange is broken into two main narratives - Lazlo's and Sarai's - although we are occasionally given insights into other characters as well. This being my first Laini Taylor book, I was blown away by the scale of her writing, and how epic and intricate her world-building is. Along with being wholly original, Strange has the feel of a modern classic.

Characterization

Characters being what matter most to me, I really enjoyed the majority of them - they all felt real and had their own motivations. Lazlo's personality could've come off syrupy, but it didn't. He was unlike most male protagonists I've read, and I really appreciated his genuine nature. And ugh, Sarai. 3 Sarai had all my sympathies throughout this book. Some other personal favorites: Sparrow, Feral, Eril-Fane, and Thyon. The romance(s?), while nothing world-altering, were enjoyable enough. The one character I hated was Minya. But I think...hopefully...you're supposed to dislike her.

Plot

Here's where my main issue cropped up. Pacing. The plot was epic and well-executed, but the first half of this book is soo slow. I'm a character-driven reader, so I usually love long, slower-paced books. But the beginning chunk of this heavy tome moves at a snail's pace, and I felt like I was wading through thick (but beautifully written!) water. Once certain events kick off, the plot picks up some speed. I just found patience was a necessary tool. The last quarter of the book in particular had my head spinning, as there were so many reveals and twists. I sat staring into space for 10 minutes afterwards, trying to grasp the full implications of everything that happened.

All in all, I cannot wait for the release of Muse of Nightmares. After the final events of Strange, I can't imagine how everything will go down in the end.