Blog Tour: Strange The Dreamer

Strange The Dreamer 
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of my shelves! 

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep. 

I'm going to level with all of you, I got Strange The Dreamer when the fancy hardback was released in Waterstones last year...you know the one? Blue sprayed edges...signed...has some pretty sweet sketches in it courtesy of the author? Yep that one! It's been sitting neatly on my shelf where it can't be harmed, waiting for the day I finally have the time to read it.....and that time finally came. When I was asked to participate in this blog tour to celebrate the release of the paperback version (which is super pretty and I think I need to buy it), I had to say yes because it was an excuse to bump the book up my TBR so I could review it, because as you all know, I've been pretty behind on review books and only just recently caught up which has left no time for everything else sitting on my shelf, sending me puppy eyes. 

Now that I'm sitting here, facing the monumental task of trying to review this book and find words to do it justice, I kind of want to punch past me for not reading it sooner because it was amazing. And when I say amazing, I mean it completely blew me away, for real. It's been so long since I sat and read a book in one sitting that wasn't on holiday, when I'm at home I generally read most books in a couple of sittings because I have so much to do, but I actually had to clear an entire day to read this because as soon as I read the prologue, I was like "Nope, reading this until the end, bye bye responsibilities". 

Strange The Dreamer has a cinematic and vivid opening that pulls you in and the writing keeps you there. The writing is completely gorgeous, it's rich and decadent with its descriptions, painting vivid pictures for you that bring the settings and characters to life. The writing also weaves an intriguing plot full of mystery and magic and alchemy and much, much more. I had so many questions while I was reading and I was thirsting after knowledge of the world. Once Lazlo explained the mystery of Weep I was hopelessly addicted and hooked to this book and I wasn't going anywhere until I'd finished it or at least gotten some clues, if not solved it. However, this book didn't fall in line with any of my expectations. It took them and blew right past them, turning them on their head and surprising me at every turn. Plus...the book was clever....but more on that later. 

First, I want to talk about Lazlo, I immediately loved Lazlo. I empathised with him and connected with him and most of all...I rooted for him. That didn't stop me being suspicious about he and his origins which was the one thing I accurately figured out on my own. The thing with Lazlo is within the first few chapters we see him playing pretend, pretending to be a warrior of the city he's so fascinated with and if that isn't relatable I don't know what is, because come on...we've all done it, when we where kids...teenagers...any age really. Plus you know...he loves books. I loved his narrative and his thirst for answers and knowledge about Weep. 

Along with Lazlo, the story is told from the POV of Sarai, I wasn't too sure about her at first but it didn't take me long to love her completely. Sarai is the daughter of one of the gods, godspawn if you will, and she was supposed to have been killed along with all the others. However, she was saved along with some others and the five of them live in the Citadel. I was so fascinated by her and her thought process. Sure she hated the murderers who wiped out everyone else, but at the same time Sarai is in the unique position, thanks to her gift, to understand why the humans did it. So she's kind of torn between hating them for what they did...but also understanding more than any of the others. I really enjoyed her as much as Lazlo and the two of them....someone sedate me, they where so damn cute and the ending damn near broke me. Not over it. I will probably never be over it. 

Strange The Dreamer is full of plenty of interesting characters both likeable and some...less so. I loved Ruza, he was a fun friend for Lazlo, I loved Calixte because she made me smile and chuckle, Feral I was less sure of, but I felt for Ruby and got where she was coming from. Eril-Fane...he's a difficult one because like Sarai...I get why he did what he did. I really do. I empathise and understand but at the same time you have to side eye him a bit for what he did. Then again it's not like he did it and life became all sunshine and rainbows for him. 

In the 'not so likeable' category there's the horrible little explosion dude, Draver I believe his name was. I honestly, much like the other characters, didn't pay all that much attention to him until he did the Thing we all should have seen coming and wanted to smack him for. Thyon was a tricky one for me, I have him in the 'dislike' camp, but when he first appeared I was thinking to myself, "Will I like you?" because I had a few ideas for how he and Lazlo's relationship could go. I was wrong. But then Lazlo revealed something to  us, the readers, that had me actually feeling sorry for him. Sure it's no excuse to be such a douche, but I did empathise with him and understand why he was the way he was. Then towards the end of the book I found my opinion changing again, because....I could see him becoming likeable. I could see he and Lazlo...maybe becoming friends finally. I guess I'll have to wait for the next book to form a solid opinion. 

Minya though? Wow I really didn't like her. I started out kind of being creeped out by her and mildly irritated, then I went to feeling sorry for her because to be honest...things had been rough for her. I wanted to like her, I wanted to be able to empathise with her and actually like her and not empathise with her but still kind of lowkey hate her...which was what I was doing. Upon finishing the book, I can confirm that she's a nasty little girl, she just went further and further down in my estimations, until the final few pages when I was like "You know what, I was rooting for you but you just took that chance and stamped all over it". Honestly I can't see myself liking her very much, ever. 

The thing about a good chunk of the characters is that there's no solid category to put them in. It's not black and white, it's kind of grey. As much as you might not like a character, the characters are written with such depth that you can understand them and their choices and the why of their actions. You might even feel for them a little bit when you're not being infuriated by them. 

Personally I thought the book was clever, because of the way the characters where portrayed, you basically have two separate camps, and each has their own version of events, and you get to see both. You feel for both. You understand both. But it's kind of hard to pick a side. Sarai saw both sides, as did Lazlo, but many other characters didn't have the same understanding. The other reason this book was clever? The details. There where so many details woven in to the story as you went, for example, the Citadel where Sarai lives. You see it through her eyes, and it's still kind of mysterious but you can still picture it, but then once Lazlo laid his eyes on it and described it for us from a different perspective...you know...outside, there's some surprise details thrown in which are then expanded upon by Sarai. I loved it. I constantly found my theories, thoughts, and opinions changing as little details like that where revealed slowly throughout the book. 

Strange The Dreamer is quite slow paced, which sounds harsh so lets go with slow burn instead, because while things really speed up and get going towards the end....the book still captivated me which is quite unusual as usually I prefer fast paced books with lots going on. Why? Because as you read, there are details and plot twists scattered throughout the plot like gems, suddenly being unearthed and blowing you away. I was so hooked in to this world I didn't even stop to take notes like I usually do when I review! I was constantly being drawn in and surprised, and amazed, and having questions answered before finding a million more questions to ask. 

The settings where vivid and imaginative, as was the story and the characters. The characters had depth and I wanted to know more about each of them. The developing relationships between characters was interesting to watch, and portrayed brilliantly. I genuinely could not put this book down, the intriguing cast and the mysteries kept me firmly hooked to the page. Not to mention the writing, like I said it was gorgeous, I can't even find words to properly describe it! It's freaking lyrical, and just...flows so perfectly. Much like the pace. 

The ending blew me away to be perfectly honest. I wasn't expecting it to be who it was when the Thing happened, and it changed everything for me. I had an idea of how things might go, and then the Thing happened and it was all turned on it's head and now I'm kind of like "huh...but...what now?!". I'm so excited for the sequel because things are certainly going to be interesting, the ending shifted my perspective on a few things and things I thought would happen and honestly...it kept on surprising me right up until the end. And you know, confirmed that any sympathy I might have had for Minya died it's last death. Sorry. 

Strange The Dreamer is a gift that keeps on giving, the more you read, the more surprises you uncover, and it's so brilliantly crafted. I'm honestly itching to get back to the world and the characters, and strongly encourage you all to binge read both when the second book's released!