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Strange the Dreamer
(Strange the Dreamer #1)
by
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 pers
...more
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Hardcover, 544 pages
Published
March 28th 2017
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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Start your review of Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1)
Jan 30, 2017
Melanie
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
favorites,
fantasy,
demons,
romance,
read-in-2018,
signed,
young-adult,
read-in-2017,
magic,
angels
Have you ever loved a book so much that it completely fills your soul, warms your heart, and heals your broken pieces?
Because that's Strange the Dreamer.
This is that rare type of book that, while reading, is a constant reminder of why you fell in love with reading in the first place. This book is perfection. This book is a tangible piece of joy. The feeling whil ...more
Because that's Strange the Dreamer.
“On the second Sabbat of Twelfthmoon, in the city of Weep, a girl fell from the sky. Her skin was blue, her blood was red.”
This is that rare type of book that, while reading, is a constant reminder of why you fell in love with reading in the first place. This book is perfection. This book is a tangible piece of joy. The feeling whil ...more
UPDATE: $1.99 Kindle US 12/20/20
Earned this beautiful badge buddy reading with: For Love Of A Book Group! 💕
CHECK OUT SOME OF MY WALL ART FOR THE BOOK! Sorry for any glares, my room light sucks!
11-1-18 Well, look what came today! The Special Edition Illumicrate Box. It's hard to see but this book has Gold Sprayed Edges to go with the cover. We got a few other goodies in the box too as well Muse of Nightmares. I just love my books! ♥
Audio re-read was freaking awesome!
Had to get the UK Version & ...more
Earned this beautiful badge buddy reading with: For Love Of A Book Group! 💕
CHECK OUT SOME OF MY WALL ART FOR THE BOOK! Sorry for any glares, my room light sucks!
11-1-18 Well, look what came today! The Special Edition Illumicrate Box. It's hard to see but this book has Gold Sprayed Edges to go with the cover. We got a few other goodies in the box too as well Muse of Nightmares. I just love my books! ♥
Audio re-read was freaking awesome!
Had to get the UK Version & ...more
It was impossible, of course.
But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming?
Oh hell, it was gorgeous perfection.
I've been away for a while because I'm on vacation, but I just had to step back in and review this completely strange, utterly beautiful book. I've been waiting so long for Laini Taylor to steal my heart once more, and Strange the Dreamer does not disappoint.
It's so tempting when reviewing Taylor's books to talk about the writing style and language. Because it's stunning. I ...more
3rd read: Feb 2020
Mostly listened to the audiobook for this reread. Still such a phenomenal book <3
2nd read: Oct 2018
I reread this via the audiobook and the audiobook is AMAZING!
1st read: Aug-Sep 2018
this is my favourite book of all time and my heart is bursting with love for this book.
Mostly listened to the audiobook for this reread. Still such a phenomenal book <3
2nd read: Oct 2018
I reread this via the audiobook and the audiobook is AMAZING!
1st read: Aug-Sep 2018
this is my favourite book of all time and my heart is bursting with love for this book.
Blown. Away.
That was incredible.
That was incredible.
I love the DoSaB trilogy, which made me nervous to read STRANGE, because how could anything top DoSaB? Somehow, Laini manages it. Probably because she is really, really talented but also I think she might make blood sacrifices to the muses. STRANGE THE DREAMER is a beautiful, unusual, unexpected story which so many great characters that it's very hard for me to pick a favorite. Worldbuilding is intense and wholly original, but still very readable and organic.
The incredible prose made me want to ...more
The incredible prose made me want to ...more
*Reread Apr 2017
This time I actually finished it, I listened to the audiobook, and it was better but still lots of unnecessary filler that prevented me from really getting into the story. Really sad I didn't enjoy it more but oh well, I gave it a fair shot!
*DNF Jan 2017
I never, like literally never, DNF books but this is one that I just couldn't do. I was so incredibly confused the whole time I read it. It was so all over the place I couldn't even bring myself to read any further. DNFed @ pg 150 ...more
This time I actually finished it, I listened to the audiobook, and it was better but still lots of unnecessary filler that prevented me from really getting into the story. Really sad I didn't enjoy it more but oh well, I gave it a fair shot!
*DNF Jan 2017
I never, like literally never, DNF books but this is one that I just couldn't do. I was so incredibly confused the whole time I read it. It was so all over the place I couldn't even bring myself to read any further. DNFed @ pg 150 ...more
READ #2, Sept 2018
Ok but can you just give me a moment while I suffocate with the beauty and perfection that is this book. I haven't had a book totally steal my soul like this in so so long and I am just !!!!! basically fifty million exclamation marks. TheRE IS NO END TO HOW MUCH I LOVE IT. I just...like the foreshadowing, the descriptions, the vivid lush world, the exquisite detail, the myths and legends, the characters who simply do not just stay on a page. They are so so real.
This is the kin ...more
Ok but can you just give me a moment while I suffocate with the beauty and perfection that is this book. I haven't had a book totally steal my soul like this in so so long and I am just !!!!! basically fifty million exclamation marks. TheRE IS NO END TO HOW MUCH I LOVE IT. I just...like the foreshadowing, the descriptions, the vivid lush world, the exquisite detail, the myths and legends, the characters who simply do not just stay on a page. They are so so real.
This is the kin ...more
*Full Review Update*
I honestly still don't know what to rate this, so I'm going with 3.5 stars.
Wow, so it took me nearly two months to finish this book. Here's the thing. The writing quite literally slays, and so does the characterization. My struggle was this: Half the time, I was sitting there in awe, thinking 'This is the best book EVER WRITTEN' ahhh. The other half? I could barely get through a page before falling asleep. There would be pages and pages of descriptions - and while they were ...more
I honestly still don't know what to rate this, so I'm going with 3.5 stars.
Wow, so it took me nearly two months to finish this book. Here's the thing. The writing quite literally slays, and so does the characterization. My struggle was this: Half the time, I was sitting there in awe, thinking 'This is the best book EVER WRITTEN' ahhh. The other half? I could barely get through a page before falling asleep. There would be pages and pages of descriptions - and while they were ...more
This was a dream to reread.
—————————
I'm thinking about how to review this and honestly, words fail me, so this'll be an attempt. I mean, I will try and somewhat make this cohesive. But nothing will do it justice. You will have to discover the story for that.
This book made me feel hopeful. Validated my views and feelings I’ve always known to be true to my own self. Then Laini Taylor comes along and drops this bomb of a magic on us and my feelings were cemented by a ten-fold.
Lazlo Strange is a b ...more
—————————
I'm thinking about how to review this and honestly, words fail me, so this'll be an attempt. I mean, I will try and somewhat make this cohesive. But nothing will do it justice. You will have to discover the story for that.
This book made me feel hopeful. Validated my views and feelings I’ve always known to be true to my own self. Then Laini Taylor comes along and drops this bomb of a magic on us and my feelings were cemented by a ten-fold.
Lazlo Strange is a b ...more
4.5 stars!! Wow this book truly blew me away!!!
I avoided reading Strange The Dreamer for a looooongggg time. I have a record of epic high fantasy with lyrical prose not sitting well with me and combined with my inability to grasp the synopsis before reading, I was greatly intimidated by this book. How glad I am that I finally gave it a chance and took my time with it because I can't imagine having not experienced this story! ...more
I avoided reading Strange The Dreamer for a looooongggg time. I have a record of epic high fantasy with lyrical prose not sitting well with me and combined with my inability to grasp the synopsis before reading, I was greatly intimidated by this book. How glad I am that I finally gave it a chance and took my time with it because I can't imagine having not experienced this story! ...more
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"Love that feeling when you start a series and immediately realize there's no going back to normal.
“All the best stories are.”
Actual footage of me entering this fandom:
There were SO many elements of this story that really worked for me (MINUS THE SO-CALLED LOVE!!!)
Lazlo Strange, an orphaned child, was always fascinated by tales of the missing city - he would make-believe all sorts of adventures.
One day, while playing alone in the monastery orchard, s ...more
May 18, 2018
Emily (Books with Emily Fox)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobooks
I liked the first half of the book. The world building was interesting, the magical powers of the children of the dead gods were interesting.... but then the second half was mostly a love story. A YA insta-love story... It ended up reducing my rating.
Overall I think this book is overhyped.
Overall I think this book is overhyped.
May 05, 2018
Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-series
“You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are.”
This quote is basically a short summary of the entire book because “Strange the Dreamer” is indeed a story about something beautiful and full of monsters. Well, actually some might even say it’s a story about “beautiful monsters" and you certainly would be more than just right to put it that way. ;-)
Those beautiful ...more
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are.”
This quote is basically a short summary of the entire book because “Strange the Dreamer” is indeed a story about something beautiful and full of monsters. Well, actually some might even say it’s a story about “beautiful monsters" and you certainly would be more than just right to put it that way. ;-)
Those beautiful ...more
oooh, goodreads choice awards semifinalist for best YA fantasy! what will happen?
laini taylor is a straight-up godsend. she’s masterful at writing characters you care about, at building worlds down to the dust in the corner of a room, at creating conflicts that are analogous to a reader’s experiences despite being set in imaginary realms populated by creatures not-quite-human, and she’ll rip your heart out with zero regrets.
this book opens with the death of a character you’ve never met, so your ...more
laini taylor is a straight-up godsend. she’s masterful at writing characters you care about, at building worlds down to the dust in the corner of a room, at creating conflicts that are analogous to a reader’s experiences despite being set in imaginary realms populated by creatures not-quite-human, and she’ll rip your heart out with zero regrets.
this book opens with the death of a character you’ve never met, so your ...more
Apr 09, 2017
Kiki
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
could-have-been-worse,
lost-the-will-to-live,
love-stinks,
cool-mythology,
choking-noises,
ghosts,
ya,
lolwut,
meh
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
the more i think about what i just read, the more i love it. i feel this story slowly seeping its way into my veins, integrating itself into the very fabric of my being.
overall, i think this book is very well balanced, but lazlo is definitely the highlight of the book for me. he is such a delight. a reader, a dreamer, a man after my own heart. i love following him on his journey and seeing his progression into becoming the man he wants to be. i became so invested in him as a character that i fe ...more
overall, i think this book is very well balanced, but lazlo is definitely the highlight of the book for me. he is such a delight. a reader, a dreamer, a man after my own heart. i love following him on his journey and seeing his progression into becoming the man he wants to be. i became so invested in him as a character that i fe ...more
"That was the year Zosma sank to its knees and bled great gouts of men into a war about nothing."
This is a very well written book. Laini Taylor writes beautiful prose.
It's also very imaginative, there are ideas in it that really impressed me. It's a book that's low on violence and action - high in character, mystery, and especially ... beauty.
The first big chunk of the book is spent with our hero, the eponymous Strange, most of it in a library - a surprisingly common location for fantasy stori ...more
This is a very well written book. Laini Taylor writes beautiful prose.
It's also very imaginative, there are ideas in it that really impressed me. It's a book that's low on violence and action - high in character, mystery, and especially ... beauty.
The first big chunk of the book is spent with our hero, the eponymous Strange, most of it in a library - a surprisingly common location for fantasy stori ...more
mahal-A risk that will yield either tremendous reward or disastrous consequence.
That's really the heart of what every reader desires in a fantasy world, right? Where there is no great risk, there is nothing worth losing, and where there is nothing worth losing, there is nothing worth reading. Perhaps that is the pinnacle of this book's excellence, but it's certainly not it's only great feature. I knew from the moment I dove in that this story would be special; the three pages of prologue were mo ...more
That's really the heart of what every reader desires in a fantasy world, right? Where there is no great risk, there is nothing worth losing, and where there is nothing worth losing, there is nothing worth reading. Perhaps that is the pinnacle of this book's excellence, but it's certainly not it's only great feature. I knew from the moment I dove in that this story would be special; the three pages of prologue were mo ...more
YES! PRINTZ HONOR!!!
You are in for a treat.
I mean, if you are a Laini Taylor fan and like her elaborate prose and rich worldbuilding and, let's be frank, romances with a whiff of instalove, I don't see how this book can disappoint you. It surely didn't disappoint me.
The story starts with a hungry orphan dreaming of a magic city beyond a vast desert where all kinds of wonders live. And ends... Well, I'll stop here because the biggest pleasure in reading Taylor's books is unspooling a wondrous ya ...more
You are in for a treat.
I mean, if you are a Laini Taylor fan and like her elaborate prose and rich worldbuilding and, let's be frank, romances with a whiff of instalove, I don't see how this book can disappoint you. It surely didn't disappoint me.
The story starts with a hungry orphan dreaming of a magic city beyond a vast desert where all kinds of wonders live. And ends... Well, I'll stop here because the biggest pleasure in reading Taylor's books is unspooling a wondrous ya ...more
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
Lazlo Strange, abandoned orphan and bibliophile librarian, has nurtured an interest in fairy tales and legends since he was a boy. His secret passion is studying the language and lore of the lost city of Weep. Lazlo believes he'll never be brave enough to search for the forgotten city, but when a heroic figure known as the Godslayer arrives at his village in search of aid, the opportunity to cross the wo ...more
Lazlo Strange, abandoned orphan and bibliophile librarian, has nurtured an interest in fairy tales and legends since he was a boy. His secret passion is studying the language and lore of the lost city of Weep. Lazlo believes he'll never be brave enough to search for the forgotten city, but when a heroic figure known as the Godslayer arrives at his village in search of aid, the opportunity to cross the wo ...more
Peculiar. Resplendent. Gripping.
These are just a couple of words that race through my mind when I consider Strange the Dreamer.
Laini Taylor has solidified her spot as one of my favorite authors with this release.
I am unapologetically in love with her style of writing. I am a shameless worshiper of her artistry for willing forth magnificent worlds & characters & scenarios from her pen.
I devour her books like oxygen.
Before I get ahead of myself, I want to mention that I did notice some small th ...more
These are just a couple of words that race through my mind when I consider Strange the Dreamer.
Laini Taylor has solidified her spot as one of my favorite authors with this release.
I am unapologetically in love with her style of writing. I am a shameless worshiper of her artistry for willing forth magnificent worlds & characters & scenarios from her pen.
I devour her books like oxygen.
Before I get ahead of myself, I want to mention that I did notice some small th ...more
Re-read with Lynn and Alison ... I shall turn you into Laini Taylor-addicts like me in no time! MUAHAHAHA! ;)
A new Laini Taylor book, you say? Don’t mind if I do…
Perhaps you’d like some footage of me, when I accidentally found an autographed copy of my favourite author’s new book:
Let’s just start off by taking a moment to appreciate the fact that Strange the Dreamer was selected as a Michael L. Printz honour book (the silver sticker on the cover). All I can say is that it is extremely well-dese ...more
A new Laini Taylor book, you say? Don’t mind if I do…
Perhaps you’d like some footage of me, when I accidentally found an autographed copy of my favourite author’s new book:
Let’s just start off by taking a moment to appreciate the fact that Strange the Dreamer was selected as a Michael L. Printz honour book (the silver sticker on the cover). All I can say is that it is extremely well-dese ...more
Jul 08, 2017
❄️BooksofRadiance❄️
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-fantasy-sci-fi,
favorites
MAGIC. It does exist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second read: Sept’ ‘18
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second read: Sept’ ‘18
this book is like porn, but for my heart
i think i've tried to review strange the dreamer like 19 times now and i still don't have the words to describe the magic that is this book. because, really, how do you put 'magic' into words??? i will let you know the day i find out, and then i will make the whole world read this book, because that's what i was sent to earth for.
in the meanwhile, i'll let you know that this reads basically as a magical bedtime story, and it makes me feel safe and warm and ...more
i think i've tried to review strange the dreamer like 19 times now and i still don't have the words to describe the magic that is this book. because, really, how do you put 'magic' into words??? i will let you know the day i find out, and then i will make the whole world read this book, because that's what i was sent to earth for.
in the meanwhile, i'll let you know that this reads basically as a magical bedtime story, and it makes me feel safe and warm and ...more
Jan 10, 2018
booksNpenguins
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
All the dreamers
Recommended to booksNpenguins by:
Marceline
Shelves:
shippity-ship-ship,
urban-fantasy
As a boy at the abbey, stories had been Lazlo's only wealth.
He was richer now.
Now he had books.
Those of you who’ve been following my reviews and rant-views for a while, already know that my first experience with Laini Taylor and her Daughter of.. was a complete failure.
I kind of enjoyed the writing, even if I found it a little pompous and confusing, and the plot was not bad either, but my main problems were the characters and their interactions.
I couldn’t be happier to admit that Strange t ...more
What a spectacular world Laini Taylor has crafted in this book! Every once in awhile I enjoy a paranormal/fantasy type of story, but it definitely isn't my go-to genre. Yet, Laini Taylor has managed to suck me in once again. The beauty of her words and the vivid imagery that she creates never ceases to amaze me.
This book centers on Lazlo Strange, aka "Strange the Dreamer". An orphan, he has never really had a home or felt like he fit in. The closest he's come to a sense of normalcy is during hi ...more
This book centers on Lazlo Strange, aka "Strange the Dreamer". An orphan, he has never really had a home or felt like he fit in. The closest he's come to a sense of normalcy is during hi ...more
Mar 28, 2019
Charlotte May
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
500-page-plus,
epic-fantasy
“He read while he walked. He read while he ate. The other librarians suspected he somehow read while he slept, or perhaps didn’t sleep at all. On the occasions that he did look up from the page, he would seem as though he were awakening from a dream. ‘Strange the dreamer’ they called him. ‘That dreamer Strange.”
Ok, so I think I fell into the trap of overhype with this one. Laini Taylor and I have an uncertain relationship. Her imagination cannot be faulted, the worlds she creates are truly re ...more
Ok, so I think I fell into the trap of overhype with this one. Laini Taylor and I have an uncertain relationship. Her imagination cannot be faulted, the worlds she creates are truly re ...more
So strange and terrible and lovely
I finally get it. I get the shrines built for Laini Taylor, the adoration of her faithful fans, because after diving into her whimsical and peculiar stories of boys and girls consumed by hunger, swallowing fairy tales and miracles and plums, dreaming big and loving tenderly and passionately, not worshipping her is not an option. It’s a reflective response. I can’t tell you the ...more
❝Dream up something wild and improbable. Something beautiful and full of monsters.❞
I finally get it. I get the shrines built for Laini Taylor, the adoration of her faithful fans, because after diving into her whimsical and peculiar stories of boys and girls consumed by hunger, swallowing fairy tales and miracles and plums, dreaming big and loving tenderly and passionately, not worshipping her is not an option. It’s a reflective response. I can’t tell you the ...more
I
AM
DONE.
Did I read the wrong book?
WHAT THE HELL AM I MISSING THAT EVERYONE IS LOVING?!
I feel like I deserve to give an award winning speech after FINALLY finishing this.
I would like to thank my friends and family for sticking by my side while I nearly pulled my hair out and complained non-stop after reading nearly 300 pages of descriptions.
300 PAGES. OF. DESCRIPTIONS.
Don't get me wrong, at times the writing was beautiful, the world building was great and all but the plot was SO DAMN SLOW. Like ...more
AM
DONE.
Did I read the wrong book?
WHAT THE HELL AM I MISSING THAT EVERYONE IS LOVING?!
I feel like I deserve to give an award winning speech after FINALLY finishing this.
I would like to thank my friends and family for sticking by my side while I nearly pulled my hair out and complained non-stop after reading nearly 300 pages of descriptions.
300 PAGES. OF. DESCRIPTIONS.
Don't get me wrong, at times the writing was beautiful, the world building was great and all but the plot was SO DAMN SLOW. Like ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howl's Moving Boo...: Strange the Dreamer | 1 | 5 | Jan 10, 2021 08:39AM | |
| Buzzwordathon: Strange the Dreamer Group Read | January 2021 | 73 | 644 | Jan 08, 2021 10:44AM | |
Ranters and Revie...:
December Genre BOTM
|
12 | 37 | Dec 16, 2020 10:19AM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor - Restarting October 24th 2020 | 202 | 357 | Oct 28, 2020 01:05PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Hi! I write fantasy books. My latest is STRANGE THE DREAMER, about a young librarian, a mythic lost city, and the half-human children of murdered gods. Check it out :-) Before that I wrote the DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE trilogy, which has been translated into 32 languages. It's about a blue-haired art student raised by monsters, a broken angel, and a war that has raged for 1000 years in another worl
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Strange the Dreamer
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Articles featuring this book
Whether it’s magic schools, dystopias, paranormal love stories, or contemporary explorations of important real-life issues, young adult books...
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4 trivia questions
More quizzes & trivia...
“You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are.”
—
916 likes
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are.”
“It was impossible, of course. But when did that ever stop any dreamer from dreaming.”
—
732 likes
More quotes…
