STRANGE THE DREAMER

This is a 2 part series. It is one of the most beautiful reads I have had in a very long time. Every word, every expression, every detail is filled with magic. You enter into a completely different realm altogether so much so that you start wishing you were in it. If you want an escape from the daily life and dive into something extraordinary outwardly then definitely go for it. It won't have realistic issues of the world but it is full of intense emotions and feelings which we all go through at some point in our life.

The only word I had for this book after finishing it was "Mind blowing" and that's what I left as a review on goodreads but I have a feeling that if I start I won't be able to stop gushing!!Lazlo is a very unlikely hero but the kind you can't help connecting with and this is probably the only book where I loved all the characters as you can't really box or label them a as right or wrong especially once you are given an insight into the "Why" behind their actions.

Wasn’t having high hopes with this one but ut turn out to be other way round book is beautifully written with well crafted details of Characters and Indulging plot.

One of the best books I have read this year .This is My first book by Lani taylor and it is a masterpiece.It's pretty hyped up but is definitely worth the hype.The writing is whimsical and beautiful.The story is immersive and the the characters are great and highly likable especially Lazlo.This is a high fantasy book so keep that in mind before starting the books (some people feel overwhelmed by high fantasy books).Also my recommendation before reading this book is that go into it without even reading the synopsis .Trust me you will enjoy it better.Can't wait to read the second book in this duology.

The book was delivered early before timing and was of good condition...it comes with a cute little bookmark...which I find very convenient for readingNow if we speak about the book review then I tell u that it was delivered yesterday evening and I have read 100 pgs till then...it's quite indulging...I can already relate to a few characters...it's all over a pretty good book to read

The book was delivered on time with a bookmark..which made me really happy.. but I am not satisfied with the story.. it was extremely slow throughout with flowery writings that annoyed me even more.. the second half seemed like a different book altogether.. it became a love story and not a fantasy at all... climax too was lacklustre.. I don't regret reading it,but I won't be going for the second book in this series.. just isn't my cup of tea..

One third of the book was way too slow. I liked the last part. Writing was whimsical which i loved a lot but the book was not for me. It was not that good. There are other great fantasy books out there.

The story is beautiful but it's a long book. It took me really long to get into the story. But it was worth it.

Strange The Dreamer é um livro de fantasia que tem uma narrativa muito lúdica, poética e bonita. Laini Taylor traz as raízes dos contos de fadas, aquele forma de descrever e de contar que é tão encantadora e envolvente que deixa o leitor apaixonado, extasiado, desejando viver aquilo e estar naquele lugar.Lazlo Strange é um garoto órfão vivendo em um mosteiro austero. Sua única fonte de alegria está nas histórias contadas por um monge caduco que falam de uma cidade há muito perdida. Um dia, enquanto brincava de guerreiro lendário dessa cidade, Lazlo sente o nome dela sumir deixando para trás um nome falso: Weep.Acompanhamos, então, Lazlo se mudar para a grande biblioteca de Zosma e se tornar um simples Bibliotecário enquanto estuda contos de fadas em busca da cidade perdida, que ele chama de The Unseen Citym, pois se recusa a usar Weep. Sua fascinação por contas de fadas, mitos, lendas e Weep lhe rende o apelido de E isso lhe rende o título de Strange, the dreamer.A história de Weep é brutal e longe de ser um sonho. Ela é um pesadelo e Lazlo está lá para resolver isso.Fui guiada por sentimentos conflitantes por todo o livro e acabei com lágrimas nos olhos e um "não!" na ponta da língua. Temos aqui personagens complexos que carregam sentimentos opostos e estão cheios dilemas e memórias dolorosas que é difícil julgar alguém. Cada pessoa que esteve ou está envolvida com o mistério de Lamento tem seu motivo para agir como o faz. E se tem algo raro nisso tudo é a piedade.Eu gostei de cada um dos personagens e de como Laini Taylor conta, aos poucos, fragmentos do passado de cada um deles. Não veja a hora de ler o segundo livro e eu tenho muito medo de não haver um final feliz.

This book was a marvelous surprise. It took me a while to get into it, but that might have been because I was going through a book hangover caused by the last few I had read. The storytelling was breathtaking and at no point was I bored with how things were progressing. I loved Lazlo and thought his personality was very endearing and refreshing. The last 150 pages or so had me constantly at the edge of my seat and the ending just about killed me. I loved it. Can’t wait to read the next one.

Laini Taylor wollte immer Schriftstellerin werden. Sie zog nie in Betracht, etwas anderes mit ihrem Leben anzustellen und hatte keinen Plan B. Trotzdem erschien ihr erster Roman erst, als sie bereits 35 Jahre alt war. Obwohl sie immer wusste, dass sie schreiben wollte, kostete es sie viel Zeit, herauszufinden, WAS sie schreiben wollte. In jungen Jahren verfasste sie hauptsächlich Fantasy, wich jedoch davon ab, nachdem sie das College abschloss. Sie sagt, dass sie versnobt war und versuchte, „literary fiction“ zu produzieren, sich dabei aber nie wohlfühlte. Erst Ende der 1990er fand sie durch „Harry Potter“ zu ihren Wurzeln zurück. Wir verdanken J.K. Rowling also eine der besten Autor_innen fantastischer Jugendfiktion, deren Roman „Strange the Dreamer“ nach dem Erfolg ihrer „Daughter of Smoke and Bone“-Trilogie mit Spannung erwartet wurde.Schon immer träumt Lazlo Strange von einer wunderschönen, fernen Stadt. Einer strahlenden, schillernden Stadt der Wunder, einer Oase mitten in der Wüste. Jahrhundertelang erzählten Handlungsreisende zauberhafte Geschichten über das exotische Juwel, das nur Ausgewählte betreten durften. Dann blieben die Karawanen plötzlich aus. Die Geschichten versiegten. Niemand wusste, was geschehen war. Aber für einen kleinen Waisenjungen blieb die Stadt ein Mysterium voller Abenteuer, durch die er das strenge Mönchskloster auf den Schwingen seiner Fantasie verlassen konnte. Bis der Stadt ihr Name gestohlen wurde. Plötzlich war alles, was aus Lazlos Mund kam, verzweifelter Kummer: Weep. Der kleine Junge spielte nie wieder und verschloss seine Träume tief in sich selbst. Viele Jahre später träumt Lazlo noch immer. Er träumt davon, Antworten zu finden und Weep mit eigenen Augen zu sehen. Als überraschend eine Gesandtschaft aus Weep eintrifft und um Hilfe bittet, ist Lazlos Chance gekommen. Mutig schließt er sich ihnen an, um die Geheimnisse der verlorenen Stadt zu lüften. Doch der Traum wählt den Träumer und Lazlos Traum hat gerade erst begonnen…Ach, Laini Taylor und ich. Es ist eine Liebesgeschichte. Zugegeben, sie ist ein wenig einseitig, weil sie nicht weiß, dass ich existiere, während ich ihr seit unserer ersten Begegnung in „Daughter of Smoke and Bone“ verfallen bin, aber was macht ein kleines Ungleichgewicht schon, wenn die Beziehung so erfüllend ist? Es erleichtert mich unheimlich, dass der besondere Zauber zwischen uns ungebrochen ist und wir noch immer harmonisch auf exakt derselben Wellenlänge schwingen. Als ich „Strange the Dreamer“ aufschlug, war ich doch ein wenig besorgt, ob unsere Verbindung diesen Test unbeschadet überstehen würde. Nach der Lektüre ist sie stärker und intensiver denn je. „Strange the Dreamer“ ist ein wundervolles Buch, das mir noch einmal zeigte, dass Laini Taylors Fantasie ein zauberhafter Ort voller farbenfroher Wunder und atemberaubender Ideen ist, in dem ich mich dauerhaft häuslich einrichten möchte. Sie stimuliert meine Vorstellungskraft in einem Ausmaß, das nur sehr wenige Autor_innen erreichen. Ihr bildgewaltiger, poetischer Schreibstil treibt mein Kopfkino zu Höchstleistungen an, weil sie trotz des grundsätzlich femininen und verspielten Charakters des Romans nicht nur Licht, sondern auch Schatten gekonnt in Szene setzt und dafür Symbole verwendet, die mühelos zu interpretieren sind. Sie hat ein unvergleichliches Gespür für die exquisite Ästhetik von Tragik und Leid, berührt die gesamte Klaviatur meiner Gefühle und macht es mir daher unglaublich leicht, mich in ihren Geschichten zu verlieren. Ich beobachtete mich dabei, dass ich mich während der Lektüre von „Strange the Dreamer“ voll und ganz fallen ließ, die Kontrolle abgab, mich überraschen ließ und Taylor einfach vertraute, dass sie mir jede Frage beantworten würde, bevor sie mir überhaupt in den Sinn kommen konnte. Für meine Verhältnisse ist das bemerkenswert, weil eines der zentralen Motive des Romans das Geheimnis ist. Von der ersten Seite an stellt das Geheimnis um die verlorene Stadt Weep die Triebfeder der Handlung und des Protagonisten Lazlo Strange dar. Doch da Taylor einen stetigen Strom entscheidender Erkenntnisse und Offenbarungen aufrechterhält und somit auch den Spannungsbogen konstant gestaltet, grübelte ich nicht ungeduldig auf den Informationen herum, sondern genoss stattdessen die emotionale Nähe zu Lazlo. Lazlo ist eine dieser Figuren, die man sich real wünscht. Seine positive und liebenswerte Persönlichkeit verströmt eine sonnige Ausstrahlung, an der man sich wärmen möchte. Er ist arglos, aufrichtig, selbstlos, fantasievoll und auf so charmante Art verträumt, dass ich von ganzem Herzen hoffte, dass seine Träume wahr werden. Leider lehrt „Strange the Dreamer“ Lazlo, dass die harte, kantige Realität unseren weichen, fließenden Träumen nicht immer standhält. Ich bete dafür, dass er in der Fortsetzung „Muse of Nightmares“ erkennt, dass er es selbst in der Hand hat, Realität und Traum verschmelzen zu lassen.Es passiert nur noch selten, dass ich so voller Lob für ein Buch bin wie für „Strange the Dreamer“. Wenn es passiert, ist es meiner Meinung nach nur recht und billig, dass ich das auch in aller Deutlichkeit ausdrücke. Falls euch meine Schwärmerei für „Strange the Dreamer“ übertrieben und kitschig erscheinen sollte, müsst ihr euch vor Augen halten, wie wenige Bücher ich lese, an denen ich überhaupt nichts auszusetzen habe. Jedes Jahr ist es lediglich eine Handvoll, die diesen Ritterschlag erhält. Tatsächlich sind es so wenige, dass ich mich manchmal frage, ob es an mir liegt. Zum Teil ist das bestimmt der Fall, aber Laini Taylor beweist, dass mit meiner Begeisterungsfähigkeit alles in Ordnung ist, solange Autor_innen die richtigen Knöpfe drücken. Kaum jemandem gelingt das so mühelos und zielsicher wie ihr. Zwischen uns wird hoffentlich immer diese ganz besondere und rare Magie knistern, die uns als Autorin und Leserin verbindet. Ich sagte es ja: Es ist eine Liebesgeschichte.

Nunca había leído ninguna historia de esta autora, solo sabía que su trilogía de hija de humo y hueso era muy popular, y ahora veo el por qué es tan querida, Laini Taylor tiene una narrativa muy hermosa, historias atrapantes y personajes excepcionales, estuve enganchada con el libro en todo momento y me encantó la manera en la que el mundo de cada personaje se va desarrollando hasta su encuentro, fue muy grato leer algo refrescante en la literatura de adolescentes, además esta versión es hermosa físicamente hablando, creo que si estuviera la otra versión (la de las páginas pintadas de azul) igual la compraría aunque ya hubiera leído el libro, se ganó un puesto especial en mi librero y verdaderamente la recomiendo, ahora que veo el potencial de la autora podré comprar sus otros libros sin pensarlo <3

In this novel, Laini Taylor aggressively shatters male stereotypes, and as someone who opposes gender discrimination, I love that.The male hero is a librarian turned secretary. He’s not physically attractive or muscular. He has a crooked nose, in fact, because it broke after a book fell on it from a library shelf. He’s been cast into a low socioeconomic class, so he’s poor and has no apparent economic prospects. His expertise is fairy tales. His passion is an area of learning that the scholars of his day consider dead. He’s selfless and service-oriented. He can’t help but show concern for others even if they don’t appreciate it or reciprocate. He’s utterly without ego, cooperating instead of competing. His greatest strengths are dreaming and loving. He doesn’t try to dominate any woman or man around him. He isn’t a professional killer, or in a profession that involves killing, or violence, nor is he driven to slay, or even prone to occasional, angry outbursts. He doesn’t drink or roughhouse, or think a great night out involves harassing women at bars. He isn’t trying to become wealthy through some impressive, high-flying career that might not actually accomplish much for the world, the way the novel’s Sisyphean alchemist is. Lazlo, in fact, tries to help another man become wealthy without expecting anything in return, specifically because he knows how much stress the pressure to “succeed” has produced in this acquaintance.So you should like Lazlo, right? He’s a great guy. He works diligently to protect and advance the bank of scholarship which serves society and provides it with hope. If he’s poor, it’s because others created a class, put him in it, and are trying to keep him there. He’s ever helpful and polite, doesn’t beat anyone or get into fights, and never stabs anyone in the back.The novel's heroine comes to love this man by entering his dreams. That is to say, she learns who he is on the inside, and discovers that his inner world is far more appealing than her outer one. That’s why their relationship grows into love before they ever physically touch.Lazlo may be contrasted with the character of his lover’s father, a testosterone-filled warrior who fought bravely for his people, and who committed atrocities in doing so that caused him to be estranged from his own daughter. Outwardly, he appears strong, brave, noble, and heroic, if repressed and a tad rough around the edges. In reality, his past experiences have left him broken and ruined inside. He is a tormented shell of the man he might have been had he approached life in a different way.This is healthy fare, then, for men thinking about who they are and what their values should be, and for women thinking about interacting with men and what makes for a good man. Wherever you may come down on these matters as a reader, there is plenty to consider, because in the end Lazlo is revealed as a complex person who demonstrates as much genuine heroism as any hero in literature.Strange the Dreamer is categorized as a young adult novel, but it’s suitable for adults of any age. The lovers are Lazlo and Sarai. Lazlo is the main character, but it did not surprise me to learn that Laini Taylor originally envisioned a different main character for this book, and presumably that was Sarai. Sarai is the daughter of the Goddess of Despair and of a human man whom the goddess raped. The author stresses that one cannot learn about strangers by looking at them; Sarai has the gift of being able to look inside them, and it is this which drives the story, so I can see why Sarai would have made a compelling main character. Personally, I happen to love complex supernatural characters, so I am sure I would have liked that.But I think Ms. Taylor had to shift the focus more to Lazlo, because some of the most entrancing and beautiful parts of the book take place inside his dreams, where Sarai is a visitor. So instead of focusing on the trials and tribulations of a supernatural being whose existence is altered when an unusual human appears, this is presented more as the story of a man’s gradual self-realization and personal growth.I can also see why the author expanded the book, which she initially planned as a standalone novel, to a duology; having created a world so beautiful, one would want to allow one's readers to linger in it. That is, after all, one of the reasons why we sometimes choose to read an extended story when we could have watched a two-hour film or seen a television show.I would advise you not to worry if it initially feels like you’re not following the story. Go with the flow as in a dream, and you'll be rewarded as the events and characters coalesce and the story becomes clearer. Then you won’t want to put the book down.The novel has a certain Romeo and Juliet-esque quality in that the lovers become progressively divorced from their own societies as they grow closer to one another. There are strong messages about control and freedom; the more certain characters seek to control others, the more rapidly the social orders upon which their control depends erode. This leads to some satisfaction as certain selfish or dysfunctional characters get their comeuppances, but it produces a running tension generated by hatred on both sides which goes unresolved. There are clear messages about the futility of ongoing conflict, war, and hate, as contrasted with the transcendence (and sometimes the tragedy) of love. The author goes out of her way not to trivialize death, and characters do not die for entertainment in this novel. Death has consequences, and the consequences play a major role.Naturally, dreams also play a major role: When societies collide, whose dreams control? Who dreams whom, and why, and how? This is a “Western society-meets-other society” fantasy, so as I was reading, it called to my mind the Adventures of Esplandián, the myth of El Dorado, and tales of the Fountain of Youth in which Europeans invented fairy tale creatures and fanciful places while pondering life beyond the horizon.Initially, Lazlo is destined to be a monk, presumably within Christendom, but as he heads east he encounters a polytheistic world. The pantheon there is complicated. Deities have their ups and downs, and strengths and weaknesses. The eastern city is enmeshed in an ancient conflict which seems incapable of resolution. Its populations live in close proximity, but separately, and look upon one other with mutual hostility stemming from horrific events they experienced during early conquests. In this respect the fantasy has a clear basis in reality, providing food for thought and reflection. The neglected city that Lazlo is driven to see for himself has been stricken by the Goddess of Oblivion, who has devoured its name. Now that no one can remember the city's name, its people call it Weep. This resonates with me in the context of colliding cultures, where conquerors have often sought to erase indigenous societies and cast them into oblivion. Again, what happens to the dreams of the invaded?My favorite quote from this novel encapsulates much of what it is ultimately about: “For what [are people] but the sum of all the scraps of their memor[ies] and experience[s]: a finite set of components with an infinite array of expressions[?]” In Strange the Dreamer, personalities are malleable, dreams are strange, strange is good, and the passions and obsessions that spring from our dreams are our destinies, not our choice.