This is a spoiler-free review! A list of trigger warnings can be found here.
Lazlo Strange is a twenty-year-old librarian whose dreams show him what others cannot remember, and his passion for magic proves to be useful as he embarks on a journey he never thought that he would join. It is definitely a lot of information to take in at first, but if you have experience reading more high fantasy novels, it is a quick adjustment and you become oriented in the world very quickly.
Sarai, Ruby, Feral, Sparrow, and Minya are remaining survivors of Weep, living in the citadel while being bearers of magical gifts. With each having a unique ability, they can be viewed as a tool or a curse. Sarai, called the Muse of Nightmares, is able to enter into the dreams of others and scream moths into existence for her purpose.
Thyon Nero is such a massive pain throughout the book, especially due to the way that he speaks to and treats Lazlo. As for a number of other characters, I cannot say that this behavior surprised me, but Lazlo continues to be kind and understanding to everyone around him, despite the way they treat him. A decent amount of the characters that Lazlo is traveling with do not speak kindly of the godspawn and the general concept of Weep, which results in Lazlo constantly defending their existence.
The relationship and connection between Lazlo and Sarai is so interesting -- he the dreamer, she the nightmare. A beautiful symmetry between their abilities that draws them to one another. The way that Sarai longs for a nightmare-less sleep and Lazlo longs for dreams filled with Sarai shows how their stories begin to intertwine as they learn more about one another and as Lazlo discovers the mysteries and horrors of what happened in Weep.
The world building is done in a way where Taylor is sure to explain what the terms mean, instead of just throwing in italicized jargon and hoping that they reader will understand what and who she is referring to. I enjoyed the way that we are given multiple perspectives -- not just from Lazlo and Sarai, but from other characters as well, even if it is for only a few pages at a time, it provides a great insight into the story.
Taylor's writing carries such heaviness and expression -- the way she is able to bring life to these characters, making you feel everything that they experience is fantastic. Lazlo and Sarai's inner thoughts alone bring with them such awe and admiration for what they do not yet know about one another, as well as what they discover about themselves. It was captivating and grew as the story progressed, and had me turning the pages as fast as I could while holding onto her words.
I definitely recommend this to those looking to get into high fantasy -- it is not as complex (or long) as The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, but builds a world and group of characters that possess individuality and growth. I will definitely be completing the series, especially after that ending. Be sure to read Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy as well!
You can add Strange the Dreamer and the rest of the series on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.
No comments:
Post a Comment