Strange the Dreamer Series by Laini Taylor - Restarting March 22nd 2019

[Dannii]

khungkhing wrote: "

Finished

[spoilers removed]"

It is such a killer ending!

[Jennifer]

Ch 39 (end of Part 3) - (view spoiler)[ Well, Sarai did try to warn Lazlo. Now he will begin to understand that the girl in his dreams is real, right? I wonder what will happen with Eril Fane - he seems really conflicted and I hope I am right about that. If he ends up just wanting to kill everyone, I will be disappointed in his character. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - WOW!! What an ending! (view spoiler)[ I really hate Minah! I'm wondering though, if they manage to get rid of her, will Sarai unravel again and vanish? Poor Lazlo and Sarai.

I am so bummed that I don't have time for the sequel at the moment! I am dying to know what happens. Will Thyon somehow play a role in solving the new problem of Minah? I expected him to be more important somehow - perhaps it happens in book 2. Will Lazlo find a way to fly them away from the town to spare Eril Fane and the village from Minah's wrath? Will they find the other godspawn that have been hidden away over the years? Will one of them have the ability to put Sarai back in a body? AHHHH, I need to read the sequel!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Here's my thoughts about the characters
Lazlo: (view spoiler)[ Oh my sweet precious boy! Who is also a godspawn. I definitely saw the signs for it this time through, but it was still such a great reveal. I hope he doesn't cave to Minah's wishes. There has to be another way to save Sarai, maybe something to do with the white bird. (hide spoiler)]

Minah (view spoiler)[ I hated this bitch from the moment she walked on the page and I still hate her hateful guts. I wish she had fallen off the Citadel (hide spoiler)]

Sarai(view spoiler)[ She definitely had a more interesting internal struggle as the Muse of Nightmares. I liked seeing her come to the realization that she didn't want to harm the humans anymore and that she believed what Minah was doing was wrong. (hide spoiler)]

The godspawn (in general) (view spoiler)[ So the gods essenitally had a godspawn breeding program going on and then they dispersed their children throughout the world. I wonder if we'll see more of the godspawn appear next? What kinds of abilities will they have? Will they be more bitter like Minah or feel more like Lazlo or Sarai? (hide spoiler)]

I listened to the audiobook this time and I think it took away some of my enjoyment. I still absolutely love this story but I was as connected and I think it's because of listening to it/being kinda distracted by everything I have going on in my life. I can't wait to finally get into Muse of Nightmares!

[Dannii]

Andrea wrote: "
Here's my thoughts about the characters
Lazlo: [spoilers removed]

Minah [spoilers removed]

Sarai[spoilers removed]

The godspawn (in general) [spoilers re..."

Oh no. I've heard great things about the audio and was tempted to pick it up in the future. I think audios can make more complex books a little overwhelming, even if you've already read the books.

[Dannii]

Also I completely agree with you about Sarai and Lazlo (my sweet children!) but I found Minya (view spoiler)[to be a pitiable character. There was pure evil in her, so it was hard to completely feel sorry for her but I struggled to also completely hate her. Every time I found myself doing so I kept rethinking over the scene where she was just sitting in the inner space only she could enter and entirely lost to her thoughts of the godspawn slaughter. That day took everything out of her. It literally withered her in body and mind. Of course, the ending again showed that there may be no goodness left in her to save. (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

Ritika wrote: "
25% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I really hate Minya right now. (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

Ritika wrote: "
50% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think she did. Since the Ellens were human ... it was strange that they loved godspawn. So it's possible that Minya controls the Ellens to be what she can't. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

18% (view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what to think about this so far. The prose is a lot to handle for me at the moment so that is taking me a while to get used too. (hide spoiler)]
40% (view spoiler)[ I feel like Minya is going to lose it at some point. She's a lil terrifying. It's also really interesting to see how Sarai's power works. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Diving into this book for the third time :D I'm so excited since I'm listening to the audio this time instead of reading the physical!
Part 1: (view spoiler)[I love Lazlo so freaking much. I'm proud of him for sticking to his guns and finally speaking out. I am pumped to see where this adventure of his will take him (again)! (hide spoiler)]
Part 2: (view spoiler)[The whole godspawn has been interesting to hear about. I wonder where Thyon is and I feel bad for Sarai. I don't really get nightmares but it would suck to constantly get them. I wonder why her body is starting to reject the medicine thing she takes before going to sleep. I also hate her sister - she seems like a twat. (hide spoiler)]
Part 3: (view spoiler)[OH SHITTAKE MUSHROOMS - SHE'S ALIVE?? ALERT THE GOD DAMN MEDIA GUYS! (hide spoiler)]
100%: (view spoiler)[...and oh my freaking god - I still can't believe any of this shit went down. I'm happy that Lazlo had some freaking powers though. I still hate Minah and wish she would've died and not Sarai! (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

85% (view spoiler)[ Ugh. I'm so involved in this! I really hope that Sarai and Lazlo figure out how to work things out with everyone. Protect the precious children who just want good things and to live the best life. (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ I WANT THE SECOND BOOK NOW!! This took me a while to get into, but Laini Taylor did such a wonderful job of building the world that I really got sucked in. But Sarai is now controlled by Minya and I'm not okay. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

I've heard the audio is really good. I'll have totry listening to it next time :)

[Heather]

I’m currently on chapter 36 and I’m going to finish it tonight!

[Dannii]

I'm hoping to finish Muse today, as well.

[Dannii]

2/4 of Muse of Nightmares: (view spoiler)[Sarai and Lazlo are the absolute sweetest together. I love how innocent they are in their intimacy. It is so horrifically sad that she isn't alive to actually experience it. This has had such a slow-moving beginning and, half-way through, there is so much still to be reconciliated but I'm happy to linger with my new favourite couple, for now. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

3/4 of Muse of Nightmares: (view spoiler)[Thyon seems to be growing as a character. He's noticing his flaws and I'm sensing a reconciliation between him and Lazlo, in the future. I'm so glad as I can see them working well together. I wonder if their two great minds combined will be the ones to solve the issues of Weep. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

4/4 of Muse of Nightmares: (view spoiler)[I'M FEELING ALL OF THE EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW. This book is not okay but this book is also absolutely perfect. I love Liani Taylor but, damn, she breaks my heart! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Strange the dreamer

This is a re-read for me I can't wait to revisit this world

Ch 8 (view spoiler)[ I am so pissed off for Lazlo. I can't believe that Thyon pretends he has known everything about weep his whole life. Thyon literally steals Lazlos dream!! (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

Page 74
(view spoiler)[What a dick, asking for his books then fucking him over like that. The people of Weep sound interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 1: How did I forget just how unbelievably beautiful the writing is in this novel? ;u; I just... wow. I really love the insights into Lazlo's character, and how the city of Weep is introduced; first with the unknown (view spoiler)[blue girl falling to her death, then as a sought after forbidden city where no outsider lives to tell the tale, and finally as the very thing that Lazlo craves most; his heart's greatest desire from as early as he can remember (hide spoiler)].

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ WOW I FORGOT how much I absolutely love the reveal of Sarai's gift. So interesting and strange and beautifully written (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ I totally forgot how long it took Eril-Fane to tell everyone about the Mesarthim. And about how Ruby and Feral started hooking up under the ideas of "we're gonna die so let's do it!!". And wow seriously heart breaking Minya scene.
(hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ch 39 (view spoiler)[ I love that Sarai warned them. And I also like knowing there is a physical limit to Minyas ghost powers. I just want to know MORE about Minyas gift though and HOW she uses her gift. I wonder if her having so many bound to her is part of why she doesn't age??? (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 5: (view spoiler)[Poor Lazlo, all he wanted to do was help Thyon and he basically got the door slammed in his face. Granted, he didn’t exactly go about helping in the best way but he’s also not exactly an extrovert and doesn’t have much experience talking to those outside his immediate circle - let alone someone who’s basically royalty!

And clearly the book he gave Thyon helped, otherwise there wouldn’t have been this sudden success with alchemy so soon after Lazlo visited. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 52(view spoiler)[ aww poor Sparrow! I do feel bad for her. Her sister and the man she loved. But she never acted on any feelings or even really acknowledged them (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 60 (view spoiler)[ wow she really is beating us over the head with the idea that Lazlo is Mestharim and has Skathis power. I honestly didn't remember how much she spelled it out !! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ending (view spoiler)[ she definitely touched on one of my ideas that she was using all her power and it was part of why she never aged. I can't freaking wait to open up muse now !! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 15: (view spoiler)[Lazlo's "completely improbable and definitely inaccurate" tale of Weep and what the problem is beautiful, and also rather too close for comfort judging by the reaction of Eril-Fane ;D

I really loved the reaction of Belabra (the mathematician) to his story though... "Is he suggesting we ought to perform labor? If you think he's speaking to you when mentioning that these so-called Seraphim are "extremely impressed with themselves, never lift a finger, expect to be waiter on hand and foot... lurk around waiting to be fed" well maybe you ought to take a closer look at both yourself and what you are "bringing to the table" so to speak, you free-loader :P (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 20: (view spoiler)[I forgot that Sarai’s father was Eril-Fane (/the Godslayer) :o (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 33: (view spoiler)[There are hints that Lazlo is something more than he appears, in the way his skin reacts to the mesarthium when he touches it, yet none of his other companions can say the same... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 48: (view spoiler)[You know, that really is a damn good question. If the ‘gods’ had been ‘breeding’ with the populace of Weep for over 200 years... what the HELL happened with the other godspawn? As Sarai said, there were only 30 in the nursery that day, and as Minya said (earlier); the children that showed their powers were taken away and never heard from again. So what’s REALLY happening here? (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 57: (view spoiler)[Really Nero, you had GREAT timing to wake Lazlo up from his very-normal-and-totally-not-magical dream with Sarai 😛

More hints of Lazlo being something more than what he appears to be too! (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Finished Strange the Dreamer! (view spoiler)[And just that entire last... 12 or so percent was just so difficult to read because I knew what was coming - that Sarai was going to die, that Minya was going to ‘save’ her ghost... and that she was going to use the love that Sarai and Lazlo hold for one another to control them. I just... I put off finishing it for quite a bit because I wasn’t sure my heart could take it and just... so many tears right now because it’s beautiful and horrible all at once ;-; ;-; ;-;

I seriously need to start with Muse of Nightmares STAT. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

I picked up the audio book so i switched to that, i got 75% done (it's freaking 16hrs!!!!!) and had to changed to a different book to finish it before the loan expires, should finish this week thou.

[Claire]

I should be starting this one tomorrow!

[Klancy]

I'm a little behind on buddy reads at the moment, but I just finished my other one so I can start this today!

[Claire]

No rush! It's gonna take me a while to finish this one, not only because it's long but because it's too bulky for me to carry around so I can't read it during lunch breaks and stuff.

[Klancy]

Claire wrote: "No rush! It's gonna take me a while to finish this one, not only because it's long but because it's too bulky for me to carry around so I can't read it during lunch breaks and stuff."

It's going to take me a while too. I'm listening to the audiobook and it's 17 hours long so I can only imagine how bulky the physical book is XD

[Claire]

Oh yeah, I had to get it in hardcover too so it is HEFTY!

(I have an unfortunate fear of moths and the paperback has a huge moth, with the hardback I can at least remove the dust jacket. Sadly the inside cover also has moths so I had to cover those too. Idk why I'm telling you all this 😂)

I have to read it for the March challenge though so as long as I can squeeze it in before the end of the month it should be fine.

[Klancy]

Claire wrote: "Oh yeah, I had to get it in hardcover too so it is HEFTY!

(I have an unfortunate fear of moths and the paperback has a huge moth, with the hardback I can at least remove the dust jacket. Sadly the..."

Honestly, I can totally see why you're afraid of moths because they are so big and so gross lol. I didn't even realize there were moths on the cover! For some reason I convinced myself they were birds and now I'm questioning everything XD

I also have to try to finish the book before the end of the challenge, so I'm planning to binge the audiobook this weekend. Hopefully we'll be able to get it done! I believe in us!

[Claire]

Right??? Laini Taylor seems to have a thing for moths, lots of them in Daughter of Smoke and Bone too. Just pretend they're birds, birds are nice :D

Chapter 4:
(view spoiler)[So many fantasy names, I can already tell I'm going to have a hard time remembering what all these things are.

I love for non-mystery books to have some mystery about them so I am intrigued! Also I want Lazlo and Nero to become friends please. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Chapter 13:
(view spoiler)[Lol nevermind Nero sucks and he doesn't deserve friends. What a tool. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Chapter 40:
(view spoiler)[I'm loving the magic system here! I feel like this is what Daughter of Smoke and Bone could have been if it wasn't so focused on the romance.

I'm really curious to see what's going on with Lazlo's skin reacting to the mesarthium. We're going to find out that Lazlo isn't completely human, I'm sure of it.

Laini Taylor sure loves her storylines about two species at war with each other. Also moths. She clearly loves moths. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Chapter 64:
(view spoiler)[I guess that it should have been obvious that Lazlo can control mesarthium, they mentioned the importance of that power like a gazillion times.

I was gonna say that duh, Lazlo had to be one of the godspawn but he wasn't blue so I figured there had to be another explanation, apparently not though. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Finished!
(view spoiler)[That ending though! Laini Taylor loves her cliffhangers.

I thought that either Sparrow or Ruby would be the one who died, I never thought it could be Sarai.

I love Minya as a villain, she's scary as hell and evil and yet it's hard to blame her for her way of thinking.

We better get a real good explanation for how Lazlo managed to look 'normal' for all those years, because that really threw me off. Also can't wait to find out what happened to all the other half god children who were born over the 200 years. (hide spoiler)]