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carolined314's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Enjoyed this one a lot, and also it really missed the mark with racism allegories and some odd depictions of trauma. I am also soooo tired of the magical orphan saving the day by being fancy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Xenophobia
Moderate: Colonisation, Violence, Bullying, Rape, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Child death, Confinement, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
barefootbeauty99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Confinement, Child death, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Death
Minor: Classism
vespix's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I love Laini Taylorʼs stories, if not her focus in telling them.
There's a fairy-tale quality to Strange the Dreamer, from whimsy and rich worldbuilding to very heavy topics used with very little care. (Seriously, mind your trigger warnings.) The plot is solid and — at least to me — felt unique in the manner of its telling. The writing style is occasionally too purple for my tastes, but not to the point it would detract from my enjoyment.
The romance did all the detracting. There's so much gratuitous making out, it had me skimming (and I almost never do that) entire sections. Pages. That's how much there is, once it gets going. It messes up the pacing. It servers no purpose. There was literally an entire plot point lost in the telling because the mains had to make out instead. I suppose it would feel different for someone who likes these scenes, but for me they were a waste of a perfectly good story. So much worldbuilding waiting to dive deeper into, but it's all lips, twining threads and whatnot.
I will read Muse, though the ending of Strange doesn't give me much hope that it's going to focus back on the plot. Pity.
There's a fairy-tale quality to Strange the Dreamer, from whimsy and rich worldbuilding to very heavy topics used with very little care. (Seriously, mind your trigger warnings.) The plot is solid and — at least to me — felt unique in the manner of its telling. The writing style is occasionally too purple for my tastes, but not to the point it would detract from my enjoyment.
The romance did all the detracting. There's so much gratuitous making out, it had me skimming (and I almost never do that) entire sections. Pages. That's how much there is, once it gets going. It messes up the pacing. It servers no purpose. There was literally an entire plot point lost in the telling because the mains had to make out instead. I suppose it would feel different for someone who likes these scenes, but for me they were a waste of a perfectly good story. So much worldbuilding waiting to dive deeper into, but it's all lips, twining threads and whatnot.
I will read Muse, though the ending of Strange doesn't give me much hope that it's going to focus back on the plot. Pity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Trafficking
lejuletre's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, Death, Confinement, Pregnancy, Rape, and Misogyny
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Instead of the other way around, the dream picks the dreamer, and Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and young librarian, has always worried that his dream made a poor decision. He's been obsessed with the fabled lost city of Weep since he was just five years old, but it would take someone more daring than him to go across the globe in quest of it. Then, in the shape of a hero known as the Godslayer and a group of legendary warriors, an incredible opportunity arises, and he must grasp it or forfeit his dream for all time.
As with any fantasy book, you have to be patient as the world building takes up 37273928393% of the book. Being bored with the world building at first—which is a big thing for me—left me a little hesitant of this book, but after I grasped it, I was fully immersed.
In a fantasy story, you would typically have to follow a number of characters, such as the sarcastic, arrogant side character, their love interest, and their toxic ex. The toxic ex is wanted by the duke, but the criminal is plotting to kill the duke, and so on. But I really like how the characters in this book were limited to a minimum. As the author also spent a lot of time developing their characters, it made me value them as characters more.
I kind of lost some of the fun because I guessed how it would end, but there is a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the sequel because the first book was fantastic in and of itself. I'll undoubtedly become more engrossed in the world-building and fall in love with the characters even more than I already do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Slavery, Kidnapping, and Rape
Minor: Sexual assault
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
NO! What do you mean "To be continued"!?!?!
I knew there was a sequel, but I was not expecting the first book to end on a CLIFFHANGER!
At least it's already written and published... But I didn't plan to read Muse of Nightmares this month, or even this year? Guess I need to squeeze it in somewhere in April.
Because this was SO good. Much longer than I had expected tbh, but I also couldn't put it down.
I loved the writing and world building, they are phenomenal. I also loved the plot, but this is definitely more of a "the journey is the reward" kind of story (only without the reward because it ends on a cliffhanger!!!). Yes, I want the plot to progress and all the mysteries and questions to be answered. No, I don't mind reading hundreds of pages of dream descriptions and fairy tales while I'm waiting. This is truly a love letter to reading and dreaming and story telling and magic. And it's such an interesting world with many interesting and complex characters and character dynamics and a heartbreaking conflict. It actually gets pretty dark and there is a lot of trauma. So much trauma. I have so many feelings for the characters and what they went through/are still going through, the decisions they made. It physically hurts. And I don't know how, but there better be some kind of happy ending.
I knew there was a sequel, but I was not expecting the first book to end on a CLIFFHANGER!
At least it's already written and published... But I didn't plan to read Muse of Nightmares this month, or even this year? Guess I need to squeeze it in somewhere in April.
Because this was SO good. Much longer than I had expected tbh, but I also couldn't put it down.
I loved the writing and world building, they are phenomenal. I also loved the plot, but this is definitely more of a "the journey is the reward" kind of story (only without the reward because it ends on a cliffhanger!!!). Yes, I want the plot to progress and all the mysteries and questions to be answered. No, I don't mind reading hundreds of pages of dream descriptions and fairy tales while I'm waiting. This is truly a love letter to reading and dreaming and story telling and magic. And it's such an interesting world with many interesting and complex characters and character dynamics and a heartbreaking conflict. It actually gets pretty dark and there is a lot of trauma. So much trauma. I have so many feelings for the characters and what they went through/are still going through, the decisions they made. It physically hurts. And I don't know how, but there better be some kind of happy ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Genocide, and Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, War, Rape, and Death of parent
kapaiai's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is beautifully written.
Very flowery, dreamy prose that matched the title and overall atmosphere of the book.
World-building was very interesting and full of potential. I could not grasp the geography though and I got lost while reading, like what??
The characters were all very enjoyable to read.Even Nero, with his Uchiha Sasuke-esque lack of self confidence. Even Minya, who is some kind of evil, ghost-wielding Detective Conan.
Lazlo was a lovely, sweet protagonist and I rooted for him sincerely. Sarai was also very sweet, and I only wanted good things for her. But y’know… plot and all that.
Has a bit of a bad ending / cliffhanger for the sequel, which I see is equally long.
It is, however, a very SLOW book. It takes its time to take you somewhere, which I didn’t hate. In fact, it matched the tone of the subject matter so I was all for it.
It’s not the kind of book that was like, I can’t stop reading!!! But I got so far in that I was like… “I can probably finish this tonight,” and before I knew it, it’s 15 past midnight and my dog wants me to turn off the lights so he can sleep.
The romance aspect was like, meh. I honestly didn’t need it. I would’ve enjoyed the book just as equally if it was a story of Lazlo learning himself and becoming a “great person”.
That's not too say the romance wasn't a important as a plot device, but I felt like it wasn't really something I focused on personally.
It was insta-love, and it’s only saving grace was that it was… unproblematic? Like, they’re very young and the way they fell in love and clung to each other showed it. (esp Sarai to Lazlo, which understandable. He was the first and only outsider who could see her.)
In fact, I would’ve loved to have seen more of Lazlo and Nero solving alchemic impossibilities together (together???).
Side note: I just want to say that I love that Nero is a Hot Guy, but he's also like "ALCHEMY IS SCIENCE. NOT MAGIC". I don't know. Something about that just tickles me, haha.
Very flowery, dreamy prose that matched the title and overall atmosphere of the book.
World-building was very interesting and full of potential. I could not grasp the geography though and I got lost while reading, like what??
The characters were all very enjoyable to read.
Lazlo was a lovely, sweet protagonist and I rooted for him sincerely. Sarai was also very sweet, and I only wanted good things for her. But y’know… plot and all that.
It is, however, a very SLOW book. It takes its time to take you somewhere, which I didn’t hate. In fact, it matched the tone of the subject matter so I was all for it.
It’s not the kind of book that was like, I can’t stop reading!!! But I got so far in that I was like… “I can probably finish this tonight,” and before I knew it, it’s 15 past midnight and my dog wants me to turn off the lights so he can sleep.
The romance aspect was like, meh. I honestly didn’t need it. I would’ve enjoyed the book just as equally if it was a story of Lazlo learning himself and becoming a “great person”.
That's not too say the romance wasn't a important as a plot device, but I felt like it wasn't really something I focused on personally.
In fact, I would’ve loved to have seen more of Lazlo and Nero solving alchemic impossibilities together (together???).
Side note: I just want to say that I love that Nero is a Hot Guy, but he's also like "ALCHEMY IS SCIENCE. NOT MAGIC". I don't know. Something about that just tickles me, haha.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Kidnapping, Rape, Gaslighting, Classism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault and Child death
pagesandplanets's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Death, and Kidnapping
midnightverde's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This fantasy novel is beautifully written. There are clues throughout the story to the mysteries of the lost city of Weep, yet there are still so many questions. The characters are full of depth and it’s easy to fall in love with many of them (and passionately hate others). There is a cliffhanger at the end of the book and I have to go put the final book of the duology on hold now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Kidnapping, Rape, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Pregnancy
victorious_one's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy