I gushed about this book a LOT on social media and I was so incredibly lucky to then be sent an early proof copy of Muse of Nightmares which I read straight after finishing Strange the Dreamer and, of course, absolutely loved. This has quickly become my new all-time favourite series and there was no way I could ever write a constructive review about either book so instead I wanted to share with you my top reasons for why you need to read this series.
1.) Laini Taylor has the most beautiful, lyrical, writing ever. I was lucky enough to attend a talk with Laini whilst she was on tour for Dreams of Gods and Monsters and she said she can spend hours tinkering around with sentence structure and you can totally tell. Every paragraph reads like poetry yet is so easy to read and sink into. Her writing is pure sorcery and like nothing else I have ever read. I ran out of purple sticky tabs whilst reading this series because there were so many quotes I needed to tab. I could easily get my whole body tattooed in Laini Taylor quotes and I may run out of skin before I'm done. If you love beautiful, otherworldly writing you need to read this series.
2.) Lazlo Strange loves books and I love him for it. The main character in Strange the Dreamer is Lazlo and he's a librarian and fellow book lover. From the start I had an instant connection with Lazlo in the only way that a book lover meeting a fellow book lover can. This series pays homage to the readers, the dreamers, the ones who believe in the impossible and because of that I think every reader can find a bit of themselves in Lazlo.
3.) Despite this book being classed as fantasy it actually has a great mystery at its heart. What was the city of Weep and what happened to it? Like Lazlo you quickly become consumed with needing the answers and that burning need to know more makes it so easy to fly through this book in the same way you would a mystery novel. Especially as the answers typically only lead to more questions in this series.
4.) Laini Taylor writes characters you come to care about with your whole heart. Even the secondary characters who we perhaps only get a handful of interactions with in each book I absolutely loved and want whole stories about.
5.) The characters are incredibly complex. In this series you get to hear from characters from opposing sides and each one is so morally grey. Even the characters considered the villains in this book have their reasons and I love how this series shows there are two sides to every story.
6.) If romance is your thing this book has the sweetest, purest romance ever that is literally something from a dream it's so perfect. Lazlo and Sarai are such cinnamon rolls and not to be dramatic, but I would die for them.
7.) A reoccurring theme with Laini Taylor's books is exploring what it means to be a monster and what it means to be a hero. She takes all the old stereotypes in books and shakes them up giving such depth to her characters and the reasons behind their actions, both good and bad.
8.) A large part of why I had such an intense connection with this series is because of the way Laini Taylor handles trauma. I have PTSD and suffer from nightmares and it's a theme that's covered in this series. She shows that there is hope and a way to move forward after trauma and it was a message I badly needed to hear.
9.) There's nothing worse than a brilliant first book and a rubbish finale that leaves you with so many questions, but both of these books are just as strong as each other and complement one another perfectly. It's an expertly plotted series that neatly ties all the threads together for a satisfying ending where all those burning questions I mentioned at the start are answered.
10.) And finally, if none of my above reasons have convinced you just look at the covers! They're absolutely breath-taking and a must for any book collector. I promise that the stories they hold inside are just as beautiful.
If you have yet to read this series, then frankly I am jealous of you because you have such a wonderful journey awaiting you. Now go ahead and get started already! There are mysteries to uncover and monsters to defeat. But before you go I want to share with you a quote from the book itself that I think captures this series perfectly.
"You’re a storyteller. Dream up something wild and improbable," she pleaded. "Something beautiful and full of monsters."
“Beautiful and full of monsters?"
“All the best stories are." - Strange the Dreamer
