Strange the dreamer

*Starred Review* By now, fans of Laini Taylor know what to expect: beautiful prose, strange and whimsical fantasy worlds, sympathetic monsters, and wrenching, star-crossed romance. Her latest, first in a two-book set, certainly delivers on that, and there's something quietly magical at play here. Lazlo Strange, an orphaned infant who grew up to be a librarian, has had a quiet first two decades of life. But Lazlo, reader of fairy tales, longs to learn more about a distant, nearly mythical city, called Weep after its true name was stolen. When a group of warriors from that very place come seeking help, Lazlo, never before a man of action, may actually see his dream fulfilled. Weep, though, is a city still reeling from the aftermath of a brutal war, and hidden there is a girl named Sarai and her four companions, all of whom have singular talents and devastating secrets. What follows is the careful unfolding of a plot crafted with origamilike precision. This has distinct echoes of Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone (2011), though ultimately it's a cut above even that: characters are carefully, exquisitely crafted; the writing is achingly lovely; and the world is utterly real. While a cliff-hanger ending will certainly have readers itching for book two, make no mistake this is a thing to be savored. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Taylor's long-anticipated latest arrives with a six-figure marketing plan, including a tour, promo swag, and plenty of publicity magic.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2017 Booklist

It's odd that the audio edition of this epic YA novel by Taylor-which unfolds from the alternating perspectives of Lazlo Strange, the unassuming librarian who is poised to have the adventure of a lifetime, and Sarai, the lonely blue goddess who visits him in dreams-does not use two actors for the lead characters, as is common practice. However, West's performance is excellent: his rich voice and British accent make for easy listening throughout, and he can also stretch himself to memorably portray various bit parts. Particularly affecting are his renditions of an elderly librarian colleague of Lazlo's and of Minya, a wicked sister of sorts to Sarai. West also captures both the strength and despair of the Godslayer, a warrior still trying to come to terms with the carnage he once wrought in order to save his people. At more than 18 hours, this audio book offers a sweeping escape to a distant realm, perfect to pass the hours of any long trip. Ages 15-up. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 9 Up-Orphan Lazlo Strange, who was found and raised by monks, becomes a librarian and reads voraciously. He soon develops an obsession with a lost kingdom called Weep, as depicted in the fairy tales he devours. When a band of warriors announce they will be traveling to Weep, Lazlo volunteers to join the expedition. In Weep, Lazlo finds unexpected romance, resentment, and jealousy from a fellow traveler, along with intrigue, betrayal, explosive action, and keys to his past. Taylor weaves a compelling tale filled with romantic language, intricately plotted story lines, and lush descriptions. Steve West narrates with a clear British accent in a crisp, articulate manner. The characters' voices are distinct, and he handles the richly detailed world-building with aplomb. West's tone reflects Lazlo's maturation as he morphs from a confused, introverted boy into a confident man as he discovers the secrets to his past and his hidden powers. -VERDICT The audiobook, while long, will draw in listeners. Give this to fans of Leigh Bardugo, Melina Marchetta, Jennifer -Donnelly, or Traci Chee. ["This outstanding fantasy is a must-purchase for all YA collections": SLJ 2/17 starred review of the Little, Brown book.]-Julie Paladino, formerly at East Chapel Hill High School, NC © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In the lost city of Weep, Lazlo Strange, junior librarian and magical dreamer, meets his dream-world love Sarai, a godspawn and nightmare bringer. They uncover potential ways to prevent impending calamity, just to encounter more unimaginable, heartbreaking--and creative--obstacles. Taylor wields her fierce and poetic narrative style in this appealing tale with an inventive magical system and affecting characters. Such a complex fantasy with a sizable cast of characters needs a skilled narrator to maintain clarity and keep listeners engaged. West expertly deploys his deep and resonant voice to match the tales darker tone and renders varied character voices effectively--from the petulant, murderous monster Minya (trapped in a six-year-olds body) to the melancholy, reluctant hero Godslayer--to create an immersive listening experience. roxanne hsu Feldman (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A young man and woman dream amid violence's aftermath in this intense series opener.Twenty-year-old orphaned librarian Lazlo Strange, whose brutish exterior conceals his cleverness, dreams of stories of a lost city. Two hundred years ago, six merciless, magic-wielding Mesarthim landed their seraphim-shaped citadel in the legendary city, blocking its skies and cutting it off from the outside world. Fifteen years ago, the Godslayer Eril-Fane ended their reign of terror with the Carnage, and now the city is known only as Weep. Seeking to restore the skies to Weep, reluctant leader Eril-Fane recruits scientists from the world beyond Weepand bemusedly welcomes Lazloto move the allegedly abandoned citadel. But the long-silent structure instead holds five surviving godspawn, gifted offspring of captured humans and cruel gods, equally traumatized by the massacre. Red-haired, blue-skinned 17-year-old Sarai is a dreamer like Lazlo but fears nightmares even as she inflicts them on the citizens below. Besides literal ghosts, Weep is also haunted by losslost memories, lost history, and lost half-blood children. Taylor's lengthy, mesmerizing epic offers an exotic Middle Eastern-esque world with invented words, biology, and mythology, populated by near-humans and strange creatures. The plot (endlessly dilated by dream sequences) is split between the lovers and then again among other narrators, rendered in delirious and sensuous, if repetitive, language. Weep becomes a laboratory in which Taylor examines slavery, trauma, memory, and appropriation, ending this first installment with a cliffhanger that leaves readers wondering if healing is even remotely possible. Lovers of intricate worldbuilding and feverish romance will find this enthralling. (Fantasy. 14 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

*Starred Review* By now, fans of Laini Taylor know what to expect: beautiful prose, strange and whimsical fantasy worlds, sympathetic monsters, and wrenching, star-crossed romance. Her latest, first in a two-book set, certainly delivers on that, and there's something quietly magical at play here. Lazlo Strange, an orphaned infant who grew up to be a librarian, has had a quiet first two decades of life. But Lazlo, reader of fairy tales, longs to learn more about a distant, nearly mythical city, called Weep after its true name was stolen. When a group of warriors from that very place come seeking help, Lazlo, never before a man of action, may actually see his dream fulfilled. Weep, though, is a city still reeling from the aftermath of a brutal war, and hidden there is a girl named Sarai and her four companions, all of whom have singular talents and devastating secrets. What follows is the careful unfolding of a plot crafted with origamilike precision. This has distinct echoes of Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone (2011), though ultimately it's a cut above even that: characters are carefully, exquisitely crafted; the writing is achingly lovely; and the world is utterly real. While a cliff-hanger ending will certainly have readers itching for book two, make no mistake—this is a thing to be savored. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Taylor's long-anticipated latest arrives with a six-figure marketing plan, including a tour, promo swag, and plenty of publicity magic. Grades 9-12. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.

In the first book of a duology, Taylor (the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy) again creates a complex and layered world of battling gods and humans. The tale begins 200 years after humans wiped out the powerful Mesarthim in a war so devastating that the city where it took place was said to have vanished and became known only as Weep. Lazlo Strange, an orphaned young librarian raised by monks, is obsessed with Weep and dreams of traveling across a dangerous desert to find it. Almost miraculously, the opportunity comes his way, and Taylor's story takes shape in Weep itself where, unbeknownst to humans, five "godspawn"—each with a special power—and the ghosts that serve them still endure, waiting to take revenge. While the pace is initially slow, momentum and tension build as love blossoms between two young people from warring factions, mysteries of identity develop, and critical events unfold in dreams, thanks to the gifts of a blue-skinned godspawn named Sarai. Gorgeously written in language simultaneously dark, lush, and enchanting, the book will leave readers eager for the next. Ages 15–up. Agent: Jane Putch, Eyebait Management. (Mar.)

Gr 9 Up—Lazlo Strange is a foundling who has grown up alone and unloved, sustained only by his fantasies and stories of a city known as Weep. As an adult, Lazlo finds his way to the Great Library of Zosma and becomes a librarian, tasked with supporting scholars in their work. His fixation with Weep continues, and he searches for scraps of information about it and its inhabitants and even teaches himself its language from books in the library. Then Eril Fane, the liberator of Weep, pays a surprise visit to Zosma. Lazlo seizes the chance to join an expedition to the city he has dreamed of for so long, and he is caught up in an old conflict between Weep's mortal residents and blue godlike beings who had terrorized the city until Eril Fane slew them. Unbeknownst to the inhabitants of Weep, five children of these magical beings have survived and live in the giant seraph that hovers over the city, blocking the light. When Sarai, one of these Godspawn, visits Lazlo in his dreams, their growing relationship leads to the revelation of long-hidden secrets and opposition from other Godspawn, who desire revenge on mortals. This is the first in a pair of planned companion novels by the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" author, and it has all the rich, evocative imagery and complex world-building typical of Taylor's best work. There is a mythological resonance to her tale of gods and mortals in conflict, as well as in Lazlo's character arc from unassuming, obsessed librarian to something much more. VERDICT This outstanding fantasy is a must-purchase for all YA collections.—Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ