Review: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series: Strange the Dreamer, #1
Publication date: 03/28/2017
Source: Bought

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 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?

Welcome to Weep.

This review is going to be short and sweet. I just have no words to express how amazing this book is. Laini is the queen of extraordinary. I love to live in the worlds that she creates. Her world building and characters are incomparable. The originality and storytelling is beyond words. I’m in awe of her books. Once I started STRANGE THE DREAMER, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put it down. I was so wrapped up in the magical musings of Lazlo Strange and the mysteries of Weep that I had no choice but to lock myself up in a room so I wouldn’t be bothered.

These characters are fantastical. I loved everything about them and their stories are beautiful and heartbreaking. I’m just speechless and I can’t praise Laini’s ability to create these magical worlds enough. This book took me on a journey and I didn’t want the story to end. Gosh, that was one heck of an ending! I really didn’t know what to do with myself after finishing this book. All I can say is I’ll be pre-ordering the sequel as soon as it’s available. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Order STRANGE THE DREAMER

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor
Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Hardcover , 432pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher (HC)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Daughter of Smoke and Bones pulls readers into a lush and vivid world full of fantastical characters. I was immediately drawn into Karou's world. The setting was magical and I loved the duality of worlds and the different beliefs that ruled them. I haven't read a book like this in some time. The writing is superb and the concept behind the plot is so unique that I found myself in awe the entire time I was reading.

The characters are rich and so full of life that I couldn't help but be drawn into the complexities of their lives. Karou and the creatures in her life brought so much intrigue and mystery within the pages. These characters are so well thought out and because their backgrounds are shrouded in dark secrets, I wanted to unlock every mystery this book held within. I love how the present and past entertwined in this book. Everything came together effortlessly as the story switched back and forth to give readers a glimpse into the characters' past and present.

This is one of those books that you don't want to put down. I fell in love with Karou and Akiva. The forbidden love aspect is always welcome as far as I'm concerned. It just ratchets the tension up even more for me. I didn't want this book to end and I'm looking forward to the next installmet. If you are looking for something different, this is a book I highly recommend. Check it out! You won't be disappointed!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars