Strange the Dreamer

Strange the Dreamer
Laini Taylor
Little Brown, 2017 532 pages
Grades 8-Up
Fantasy

Two points of view trace the stories of two very different teenagers. Orphan, Lazlo Strange, is raised by monks and eventually becomes a librarian, a young man in a sea of white-haired scholars. He has always felt different and as if he doesn't belong. When given the chance to travel to the far-off land of Weep with a mysterious warrior known as the Godslayer, a place of which Lazlo has always been drawn, he jumps at the chance. Many talented people are among the party, including a young alchemist, whom Lazlo has had uneasy encounters. The Godslayer has gathered them together to try to bring down a large fortress, which is blocking the sun that formally housed evil Gods, who kidnapped humans from Weep and did with them as they wished. The Godslayer killed them all many years ago, yet he unknowingly missed a few babies, including one with a deep connection to himself. These babies are now teenagers and have magical godly powers. Our heroine, Sarai, is the Goddess of Nightmares. She meets Lazlo in a dream and the two begin an unconventional friendship that leads to romance. Can two souls find happiness if they are human and Goddess, mortal enemies, and can only meet in dreams? The action heats up as the Godslayer realizes that he left some souls alive and Sarai and her compatriots are in terrible danger. Twists and turns abound as the action plays out with devastating consequences.

Taylor, author of the wildly popular Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy turns from angels to mythological Gods and Goddesses with individualized magical abilities. The story is original and immersive. It is not for the casual or reluctant reader, but more for serious fantasy readers, such as lovers of Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Sarah Maas. I listened to the story on audio and, although I have a pretty hefty commute, it took me a very long time to get through. The book is dense with a lot of dialogue and time spent in dreams, which, although necessary to the plot, encouraged me to drift away, having to rewind. The target audience will fall into this world and never want to leave, perhaps finding the book to not be long enough. The writing is excellent, as can be seen by the excellent reviews and Printz honor distinction. The characters are interesting and the unlikely relationship intriguing and romantic. I appreciated the original idea of falling in love in a dream world and enjoyed the plot twist concerning Lazlo that comes at the end, it just took me way too long to get there. Readers who enjoy this volume can immediately head into the sequel, Muse of Nightmares, which was released last week. The longest line I saw last year at Book Expo was for Laini Taylor, so she definitely has her fans--and they are intense and loyal. A well-written foray into an unusual world for those with the time and patience to invest.