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 to 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?
AHMAGOD THIS BOOK IS FANTASTICAL
“He drifted about with his head full of myths, always at least half lost in some otherland of story. Demons and wingsmiths, seraphim and spirits, he loved it all.”
This book is so beautiful and fantastical but what really makes me love it and what I think will make everyone fall in love with it is Lazlo out main character.
Lazlo is our MC and the book shows him as a child suffering under the control of monks and playing make believe, always listening to stories and tales he’s a dreamer from the start. Laini has created such a just wonderful character in Lazlo, he’s a librarian and loves myths and tales, he has a childs heart even though he’s been through so many things that could have hardened him.
“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.”
When people ask me how I read so many books ^^ here’s your answer like Lazlo I don’t sleep, my blood is pure caffeine at this point.
Lazlo is kind which doesn’t sound like a big enough word to describe just how soul deep his goodness runs, he’s selfless and just friendly I had never read a character like him and now I need more. Gimme all the kind lovely librarians I’ll buy every book if someone tells me the main charcater is like Lazlo.
The writing is just a whole different level. The world building is on point, there’s beautiful lucid dreaming, gods, good vs evil, the theme of can one thing be only good or evil. Magic and alchemists, explosions and creations.
The tale of Weep is a tragic one, ruled by “Gods” and enslaved for years the humans finally defeated them but couldn’t remove the citadel that floated above their city or the hurt in their peoples hurts and minds.
That’s all I’m saying because you really should experience the magic yourself, the frekin just beautifulness of this story slowly unraveling and coming together.
I have to be honest it did take me a while to read this, I read the first half so slowly but as soon as I got past the 250 page mark I was in love and couldn’t put it down, every character had my hooked.
I’m planning on re-reading this asap so I’ll come back for a more detailed review but I love it all and need more stars.
Thank you Netgalley for an earc and omg thank you Amazon for this beautiful blue stained signed edition AHHHHH it is so pretty.
5/5 Stars
This book is also The Ya Room’s book of the month, if you don’t know what the YA room book club is it’s a melbourne based book club but there are online twitter chats for everyone and always awesome BOTM!
Have you read Strange The Dreamer yet?What did you think of Lazlo? Who was your fave character? Is it on your TBR?
If it’s not on your TBR I mean it needs to be. The main character is a caring book worm who loves fantastical tales! I don’t know how anyone couldn’t fall a bit in love with Lazlo
adoptabookaus.com 
Ooh I can’t wait to read this now!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you love it! It’s definitely a slow burn fantasy but so unique and well done 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so excited that it’s coming my way!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read Strange and I really enjoyed! It was the cutest read and so well written and Lazlo was the sweetest human being! I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens to these characters!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I LOVE Laini’s writing she’s just magical I reallly hope she comes to Melb soon so we can hear her talk about how she gets these beautiful ideas and characters! I am dying for the next book I’m mean THAT ENDING *all the tears* Lazlo is truely the sweetest and my new fave character ever
LikeLike
I read this last month and I 100% agree with everything you said in this review! Lazlo is amazing and just a gorgeous human. The only thing I don’t like is that we have to wait till next year for the second book!! 😩
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am def going to be re-reading this probably more then once while I wait a WHOLE YEAR AHHHH I can’t believe this is only going to be 2 books as well, I’d gladly live in this world for a 6 book series although I don’t know if my heart could take that xD THAT ENDING ah it killed me So glad you loved Lazlo he’s such a sweetie!
LikeLike
I’M STILL NOT OVER THE CLIFFHANGER WHAT EVEN 😩 This really was such an amazing and magic book. Laini’s writing is incredible. Great review, Casey 😀 I’m glad you loved this!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
THAT ENDING KILLED ME, Ah all these character, the world just everything is amazing serious heart eyes all round I didn’t even mind that it was such a slow burn coz the writing is just perfect 😀
LikeLike
Ahh. I love this review. I cannot wait for more books in this series. The ending!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Angel! Its such a difficult book to review I just want to yell READ IT to everyone XD The ending ahhh I need the next book asap XD
LikeLike
Great review! I really need to get onto reading this book ASAP (especially because I’m planning on going to the YA Room book talk). I think I’m a little in love with Lazlo just from that quote…<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Liss have you started reading yet! the talk is soon I want to be able to fangirl about lazlo with you please XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, sorry! I need to though – knowing me and the fact that I have to catch up on all of the homework of ever (that I made the intelligent decision not to do in the holidays, smh @ me) I’ll probably read it Saturday. We’ll see though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so hope I get the chance to read this one soon! I adored Laini’s first trilogy and I have a feeling I’m going to love Strange the Dreamer even more. It sounds so magical and Lazlo sounds like a fantastic character. Great review! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having a male main character that wasn’t macho and up himself is SO refreshing and I didn’t even realise I needed that but now I want all my guy characters to be Lazlo 😀
I hope you love it I liked it more than DOSAB and I really enjoyed DOSAB so I’m sure you’ll love this one XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
SO. MUCH YAAAAAAAAAAS! Strange The Dreamer is one of those books that is just too beautiful for words to do justice. It took me a little while to get into it too. I found Lazlo’s point of view more engaging in the beginning, Sarai was an enigma and a touch confusing. How beautiful are those blue pages! If not for papercuts and potential hideous.scarring, I’d rub my face all over them. Beautiful review Casey, absolutely loved it ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
omg the special edition is beautiful and the drawings on the title page! I LOVE I don’t even care that they look printed they’re beautiful.
I so hope Laini Taylor comes to aus soon so I can meet her and hug her for creating Lazlo he’s such a sweetie. Sarai was very much a mystery but I kind of liked her more for not really loving her at the start.
LikeLike
It seems as if this book deserves all the hype it is receiving! It sounds like Lazlo is a very relatable character to us bookworms 🙂 Review after review for this one all mention the writing & world building are incredible. Guess I’ll be adding this one to the TBR finally. Lovely review Casey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
EEeee yay Amanda I think everyone will fall a little bit (if not a lot) in love with Lazlo I mean he has books fall on him and if that’s not relatable I don’t know what is XD
Laini is just an incredible writer although this isn’t a fast paced story it’s so beautiful and fantastical ah I can’t wait for you to read and review it so we can fangirl together xD
LikeLike
Boy, the amount of love you show for this book is amazing! 😛 This book seems to have piqued the interest of every single YA reader out there. The character, the world and the writing sound reaaaallly good and I’m really happy to hear how much you love them all. Nothing more amazing than seeing a bookworm rave about a book just after finishing it! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
The writing is really the stand out, the plot and pace is slow but the writing omg it’s beautiful, Lazlo is such a dreamer, reader, wonderer that being in his head is such a nice place to be XD It’s just really unlike anything I’ve read and I think that’s a big thing that is creating hype.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review. This book sounds amazing and the covers so pretty😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Strange is one of my faves of the year, the magical/fantasy elements are so unique and unlike anything else I’ve read. The covers gorgeous! I can’t wait for the next book and to see what the cover for that looks like 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person