The paperback from Strange The Dreamer is finally coming to the UK! *throws confetti* It’s been a long time coming, and at long last here we are. To celebrate, I’ve joined the Strange The Dreamer blog tour today, sharing my review from when I read this delight of a read and reminding you all that you should give it a go. In fact, I’ve reminded myself that I should reread it sometimes this year, especially with the second book Muse of Nightmares coming out later this year.
Anyway, enough rambling – onto the (spoiler free) review!
If you like stories about dreams, nightmares, gods, fantastical worlds, and don’t mind a few (hundred) moths thrown in the mix too, then you guys are going to love this one.
Admittedly, I didn’t think this was going to work for me at first. With this new world comes a whole new load of words and details to learn, which for the first 100 pages or so were a bit overwhelming to me. I sort of just floated through the story, not quite grasping what was going on. But…then it just clicked. And suddenly, I began loving it.
This book is just so rich in detail. I had absolutely no problems imagining this world and all its wonders. There were different cultures, different expectations, different histories, and once it all started coming together it was just incredible. I loved learning about all these different places and the people that lived in them, whether it was a main factor in the story or just a brief glimpse over.
The book picked up for me when you start learning about Sarai’s story. It was like nothing I’d heard before, and so I immediately wanted to know every single detail I could.
And let me tell you – you can tell that Laini Taylor wrote this. If you’ve read her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy (as of right now, I’ve only read the first book), then you’ll know she has that way of writing weird a wonderful worlds in a way that just hooks you. This has the same atmosphere. Nobody but Laini Taylor could have created this book, and I know so many of her fans will adore this book for it.
While I personally think this is a slow burning book, it definitely isn’t dull. It gives you time to soak everything in, and really appreciate the story. It’s the sort of book I really hope people will make fan art for, because there’s so much to go at. Hell, I’d try to make my own if I knew where to start.
I have high hopes for great fan art. I just know so many people are going to love this one.
*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book. This in no way affects my opinion.
Rated 4/5 stars!
I’d love to know whether you’ve read this book or not, and what your thoughts were if you have! The other blogs in the tour are in the banner below – I’m sure they’d massively appreciate it if you checked their posts out too 🙂
Until next time…
A frolic through fiction 
This was one of my favorite books last year! I think Lazlo is one of my favorite book characters EVER. I wasn’t exactly sold on the romance portion, BUT I was all in for everything else. I cannot wait to see where this story goes 🙂
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I thought the same! It takes longer for me to be sold on the romance plot of any story, but the rest of it more than made up for it. I’m glad to hear you loved it too 😀
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Wonderfully written review Ashleigh! I remember absolutely falling in love with this book, reading it last summer. Dreamer is such a relatable character, especially for bibliophiles, with him dreaming up worlds and bumping into walls when reading.
I can’t wait to read more from Taylor. 🙂
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Thank you!
I loooved seeing the biblio side of things, and the descriptions of the library were everything I want in life ahaha! I’m glad to hear you loved it 😀
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Lovely review! I’ve had this book on my tbr for too long. I should really pick it up soon! 🙂
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I hope you love it when you do!
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I’ve *accidentally* picked this up this month. It wasn’t a book I intended to read yet – I had it planned for next month but decided I’d treat myself to the first chapter as a taster at the weekend.
I’m now about 120 pages in and love it so far! This will not make it to next month unread!!
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I can’t believe I still haven’t read this book! 😭
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*gasps* You should!!
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This book has been sitting on my shelf since last year and while I’m dying to read it, it’s so huge it’s intimidating! I will read it this year though! 🙂
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It’s definitely worth all the pages!!
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I adored Strange the Dreamer so much, it was one of my favorite books of last year! Lazlo was such a relatable character, books were a huge part of his life and as bookworms, we can totally get that. Laini Taylor’s writing is so beautiful and every time, I feel like writing down so many quotes, to the point that it could just be the entire book. I’m looking forward to rereading it right before The Muse of Nightmares comes out! 🙂
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“What’s your favourite quote?” *hands over the entire book*
Ahaha, I get what you mean! Her writing is definitely my favourite part of her books ❤
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I can’t wait to read this one. I’ve heard so many good things…
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I hope you enjoy it!!
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