A story about Gods, love, knowledge, alchemy, magic, and most importantly, dreams. Strange the Dreamer series is a fantasy fiction written by Laini Taylor, and here we have given a spoiler-free review.
About Strange the Dreamer
Title: Strange the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Adventure
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Type: Series
No. of Books: 2
Lazlo is a war-orphan who has always been obsessed with his dreams. Dreams of beautiful people who don’t look like humans, the color blue, and the lost city whose names have been erased from the world. Spending his time in the library reading books, Lazlo desperately seeks knowledge about the City of Weep, wanting to know what his dreams want to tell him. Finally, an opportunity comes to him when a band of warriors comes looking for scholars to accompany them on a mission, not knowing that it will change everything he knew about the world and himself. Strange the Dreamer is a mythological fantasy, but at its core, it’s about traumas, the power of knowledge, and about humanity that’s not always black and white.
Review of Strange the Dreamer series
Oh, My God. When I read sentences like “Life won’t just happen to you boy. You have to happen to it.” or “The library knows its mind. When it steals a boy, we let it keep him.” how am I supposed to immediately not fall in love? Not to mention those gorgeous covers and catchy titles?
Now, sure, this series has some of the classic elements we expect in fantasy: an amazing, vividly crafted world, characters with layers of complexity, villains who seem almost too dark to face, and a romance that practically glows off the pages. But it’s got something special—heart. And books. Loads of magical libraries and stacks of books, which, honestly, is just… perfect.
Taylor’s writing feels like it’s from another world altogether. Every sentence flows into the next like poetry, yet without feeling overdone or flowery. Her writing takes readers through a journey so vivid and emotional that it feels like it’s in living color. And for those who get wary of overly flowery writing? Don’t worry. Taylor’s poetic style stays engaging, never dragging, and the exaggerations? They work. They add weight to the story, making the stakes and emotions feel intensely real.
Yes, the pace can be unpredictable. It’s a little bumpy—fast here, slower there—but it’s never confusing. And even with the pacing quirks, it keeps readers locked in, especially during some pretty unforgettable scenes (there’s one in the first book that’ll be burned in readers’ minds for ages). The ending? It’s both exactly what we need and nothing like we expect. In the best possible way.
If fantasy books are your thing (or even if they’re not yet), Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor is an absolute gem that will just pull you in, heart and soul.
If you want to read the first book in the series, Strange the Dreamer, click on the link below:
Below is a more detailed summary and review of all the books in the Strange the Dreamer series.
Strange the Dreamer: #1 Strange the Dreamer
About the Book
Title: Stranger the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 544
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Lazlo is a dreamer, and when a chance presents itself for him to fulfill his dream, he jumps on it. But the closer he gets to the city that was cut off from the world two hundred years ago and the one he always dreamed about, the more Lazlo begins asking questions. How can he dream about something he has never seen before? Who is the woman who keeps appearing in his dream, watching it play as a spectator? And most importantly, what’s happening to his mind and body? The answer lies in the City of Weep, but he won’t get any before dying if he is not careful. The city hides something more powerful than a whole army of warriors and a Godslayer. It hides the secrets of the Gods themselves.
Mini-Review
This book? Hands down one of the best fantasy novels out there. And let’s be real, there have been a LOT of contenders. Taylor’s writing is absolutely stellar, sure, but it’s not just about her writing. The romance here, between Lazlo and Sarai, is actually perfect. Right from the moment Lazlo dreams of her, readers are locked into the chemistry and feel like they’re experiencing it firsthand. And the world? It’s enchantingly detailed, the kind of setting that makes people believe in dreams again. Plus, it’s a gentle reminder of how powerful our minds—and dreams—really are. Honestly, readers will feel like they’re dreaming with their eyes wide open. If that sounds a bit over the top, maybe it is… or maybe it’s not. Find out for yourself.
Rating: 5 / 5 Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: Yeeeeeeeeeees! Totally!
Strange the Dreamer: #2 Muse of Nightmares
About the Book
Title: Misuse of Nightmares
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 522
Goodreads rating: 4.2/5
Lazlo and Sarai didn’t come out of the battle unscathed, but the war had just begun. And Minya has no plan of stopping now. So while Lazlo struggles with his newfound identity, Sarai is stuck in the nightmare she created herself. But they say the true strength of a person is always known when they are at rock bottom. And Sarai is about to find out that the extent of her powers has no bounds. On the other hand, Lazlo is plagued by the mission that he needs to complete. As a hero, he needs to finish what the Gods started two hundred years ago. Of course, Lazo also needs to kill the monsters to bring peace to the world. But maybe, this time, he can save the monsters too.
Mini-Review
“There comes a certain point with a hope or a dream when you either give it up or give up everything else. And if you choose the dream, if you keep on going, then you can never quit, because it’s all you are.”
Muse of Nightmares
I had to put this because – seriously? Do I need to explain? This line alone explains the magic of this book. The story is deep, the characters grow so satisfyingly, and Taylor’s writing somehow gets even better. Admittedly, the plot can stumble here and there, and finishing the series leaves readers with that bittersweet, hollow feeling of “what now?” But that’s a good thing, right? It means the story and characters really stick with you. Watching each arc come full circle makes the journey more than worth it.
Rating:4.5 / 5 Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: If you have read the first book you can’t NOT read this, C’mon! A 100 times yes!
Conclusion
Rating: 5 / 5 Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: Yes, for the love of God, please read it!
After finishing, you can go devour similar books, like Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Beneath the Citadel, or The Starless Sea, while I go and cry because there aren’t going to be any more books in this series.
About the Author
Laini Taylor, born in Chico, California, in 1971, is an American young adult fantasy author best known for her Strange the Dreamer and Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series. Dreamdark: Silksinger, the sequel to her debut novel – the Dreamdark: Blackbringer – was a winner of the 2009 Cybil Award. She grew up as a US military kid in Europe and California and earned her English degree from UC Berkeley. She currently lives with her husband and daughter in Portland, Oregon.
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