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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
The author chose violence when writing this book.
I’m distraught. I’m in shock. That ending has me reeling and so thankful I have the second book on hand because I need to know what happens.
While I’ve read a few people mention that this book was slow, the pace was absolutely perfect for me. The world building was magical and truly made me feel like I was in a dream.
If you enjoy books focused on world building and multidimensional characters, you just might enjoy this book. All the characters seemed complex and the “villains” were never just villains. Everyone has a reason, a purpose, a story.
I’m distraught. I’m in shock. That ending has me reeling and so thankful I have the second book on hand because I need to know what happens.
While I’ve read a few people mention that this book was slow, the pace was absolutely perfect for me. The world building was magical and truly made me feel like I was in a dream.
If you enjoy books focused on world building and multidimensional characters, you just might enjoy this book. All the characters seemed complex and the “villains” were never just villains. Everyone has a reason, a purpose, a story.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is technically my third time reading Strange the Dreamer, but the first time listening to the audiobook, and I dove in because I was craving something familiar and beautiful and moving. As every time before, it delivered.
This was the first time it struck me that this book actually does a few things I don't usually like—slow plot and omniscient POV among them—but the world-building is so stunning, the emotion so lovely, and the characters so perfect that I genuinely do not care. I am always swept away by the complexity of people and their thoughts and their lives when Taylor is the one writing them, and I could read that forever!
This was the first time it struck me that this book actually does a few things I don't usually like—slow plot and omniscient POV among them—but the world-building is so stunning, the emotion so lovely, and the characters so perfect that I genuinely do not care. I am always swept away by the complexity of people and their thoughts and their lives when Taylor is the one writing them, and I could read that forever!
I tried really hard for YEARS to get through this one, but it just didn't give what I was hoping for. Disappointing since DoSaB is one of my fave series of all time (the books that got me into reading during highschool). But Strange the Dreamer felt like such a slog and I couldn't find myself caring for any of the characters.
I didn’t doubt that Laini Taylor would, again, sweep me off my feet into fantasyland because she’s just that good at world-building. This book was beyond any expectation I had. The world this takes place in: the storytelling, the narration, the plot, the dialogue—it’s all so good!
Strange the Dreamer covers a lot of real world issues but makes them digestible. It turns real world dilemmas into fantasy quests in need of conquering. It’s poetic how Laini does it: all of the problems she writes in her fantasy books are grounded in reality. Issues of race, skin colour, genocide, abuse, slavery, trauma—and all that it insinuates—hate, fear and even love. These are all present in the story. It takes a deep understanding of humanity to write about these things in the way Laini does. She makes them easy to read, especially for the average reader who isn’t necessarily looking for solutions to world issues in a fantasy book. Some might even read this book and miss its whole purpose: to highlight the realities of our world by reflecting it in a world not of our own. Its the tenets of such basic strategies for problem solving—so basic that we tend to overlook it: If you want to see objectively, then you have to look at things from a different perspective. Laini utilizes that strategy so well.
Strange the Dreamer tells the story of Lazlo Strange, and his story of self-discovery. It also tells the story of Sarai and her siblings; the trauma they’ve endured and the ways in which they’ve chosen to cope. Most importantly, it tells of the relationship between people who have experienced a troubled history—the fear and hate that abuse can breed, the amount of empathy it takes to forgive those who have hurt you, the strength and endurance needed to reclaim stolen power, and just how much love it really takes to make a positive difference.
Strange the Dreamer covers a lot of real world issues but makes them digestible. It turns real world dilemmas into fantasy quests in need of conquering. It’s poetic how Laini does it: all of the problems she writes in her fantasy books are grounded in reality. Issues of race, skin colour, genocide, abuse, slavery, trauma—and all that it insinuates—hate, fear and even love. These are all present in the story. It takes a deep understanding of humanity to write about these things in the way Laini does. She makes them easy to read, especially for the average reader who isn’t necessarily looking for solutions to world issues in a fantasy book. Some might even read this book and miss its whole purpose: to highlight the realities of our world by reflecting it in a world not of our own. Its the tenets of such basic strategies for problem solving—so basic that we tend to overlook it: If you want to see objectively, then you have to look at things from a different perspective. Laini utilizes that strategy so well.
Strange the Dreamer tells the story of Lazlo Strange, and his story of self-discovery. It also tells the story of Sarai and her siblings; the trauma they’ve endured and the ways in which they’ve chosen to cope. Most importantly, it tells of the relationship between people who have experienced a troubled history—the fear and hate that abuse can breed, the amount of empathy it takes to forgive those who have hurt you, the strength and endurance needed to reclaim stolen power, and just how much love it really takes to make a positive difference.
I slogged through this--I wanted tighter editing. I skimmed through the flowery stuff, mainly dealing with the gods, and I won't be reading the sequel. I wanted more of Lazlo, and less of the feelings.
DNF - Tried reaaaaaallly hard with this one. Just couldn't get into it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Wow. This is a well written breathtaking book. It's beautiful and original and weird. I loved it so much. If you like fantasy at all you have to read this book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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