Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor captures the reader’s attention with its vivid imagery and flowing prose. It the first novel in Laini Taylor’s new duology of the same name. Strange The Dreamer follows Lazlo Strange, an orphan librarian who was rescued by monks and dreams of a magical city.

The novel opens with Lazlo as a child, bemoaning the harsh order of the monastery in which he lives. The only joys in Lazlo’s life are stories told to him by a senile monk of a mystical exotic city full of knowledge and culture. As Lazlo grows older, his obsession with this city he calls Weep does not fade, yet he is constrained by the strict order of the monastery. He is sent by the monks to deliver a manuscript to the Great Library and does not return, becoming an apprentice. Lazlo begins to meticulously research the lost city through his resources at the library, compiling tomes of the research in his room. One day, Lazlo sees a caravan coming through the city and he is stunned at his realization that the travelers are from Weep. He finds out that they are coming in search of great minds to restore Weep to its former glory. Through his knowledge of Weep’s culture Lazlo convinces the caravan leader to let him join them, fulfilling his dream of seeing the lost city in person. In Weep, Lazlo is amazed at the diminished glory of the city he so vividly imagined. He is determined to restore it and fix the problem that has been hanging above the citizens’ heads (literally). The city of Weep had been taken over by gods who had tortured the citizens and stolen away children. The gods were killed, yet the shadow of their influence still hangs over the city. In his dreams, Lazlo meets a blue skinned girl named Sarai who by his knowledge should be dead because all gods were killed. At first Lazlo believes that she is a figment of his subconscious, but as they begin to have interactions inside his dreams he realizes that she is indeed real. They begin to form a romantic connection. Sarai becomes imperative in Lazlo’s quest to save the city of Weep.

Strange the Dreamer is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Laini Taylor’s writing is beautiful and the plot is captivating. The story is addicting and the end comes abruptly and unexpectedly, causing the reader to crave more. While the novel is set in a fantasy world, real-world themes such as discrimination, emotional and sexual abuse, rape and racism are developed throughout the story. Characters in Strange the Dreamer are all deep, complex and flawed, having both a good side and a bad side. They deal with the weight of their responsibilities and the repercussions of their actions. My only critique for this novel is the speed of Lazlo and Sarai’s romantic relationship. They seemed to form a romantic connection the second they laid eyes on each other, and this relationship intensified very quickly with seemingly no background or reason to. Their relationship seemed almost akin to “insta-love”, in which characters fall in love the second they see each other. Overall, Strange the Dreamer was an amazing book with a great plot and deep characters. I look forward to the next installment in the duology.