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A review by luluwoohoo
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️A unique and well written fantasy that delivers a lot of good elements but somehow fails to tie them all into something great
▪️ The pacing was slow in the beginning but I enjoyed the world building enough to go along for the ride. Probably my favourite aspect of the world building was the complexity of everyone's feelings surrounding the original situation in Weep, which was well developed for a YA novel. The mysteries were interesting and arguably better handled than the love story (insta love isn't my favourite trope) and I appreciated the ending not being too predictable
▪️ I found the characters, particularly Lazlo, endearing to read, though as already stated the insta love felt underdone with the rushed pacing
▪️Taylor's writing is lovely and lyrical, sometimes to the detriment of the scenes but mostly enjoyable to read. I do, however, take issue with the head hopping throughout which is a pet peeve of mine in multi POV stories
▪️ Though I enjoyed the experience overall, there were simply too many elements I dislike to rate this higher. I am, however, keen to read the second book and finish off this interesting duology.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️A unique and well written fantasy that delivers a lot of good elements but somehow fails to tie them all into something great
▪️ The pacing was slow in the beginning but I enjoyed the world building enough to go along for the ride. Probably my favourite aspect of the world building was the complexity of everyone's feelings surrounding the original situation in Weep, which was well developed for a YA novel. The mysteries were interesting and arguably better handled than the love story (insta love isn't my favourite trope) and I appreciated the ending not being too predictable
▪️ I found the characters, particularly Lazlo, endearing to read, though as already stated the insta love felt underdone with the rushed pacing
▪️Taylor's writing is lovely and lyrical, sometimes to the detriment of the scenes but mostly enjoyable to read. I do, however, take issue with the head hopping throughout which is a pet peeve of mine in multi POV stories
▪️ Though I enjoyed the experience overall, there were simply too many elements I dislike to rate this higher. I am, however, keen to read the second book and finish off this interesting duology.
"He had even given her wings. But what she wanted most in that moment wasn't the sky. It was the world and broken things, and hand-carved beams and tangled bedcovers, and a lovely tattoo around her navel, like a girl with a hope of a future. She wanted to know all the things that bodies are for, and all the things that hearts can feel[...] She wanted to wake up holding hands."