An Unseen City that essentially exists in legends and fairytales, an orphan boy (Lazlo Strange), a golden boy, and an impossible problem are at the core of Laini Taylor's newest novel. In some ways, this teen fantasy strikes me as a PG version of A Crown for Cold Silver (The Crimson Empire)
by Alex Marshall - not as gutsy or graphic by any means but epic in its own right. The transition and flow of the characters is reminiscent of those in Crown, one of my favorite reads in recent years, so Strange left me longing for the next installment.Lazlo Strange is one of those characters you can't help but root for. Though I would argue that he brushes dangerously close to the realm of Mary Sue characters, Strange's backstory and awkwardness make it forgivable. Besides, the other characters are flawed enough to bridge the gap.
The writing is clean, smooth and refreshing, especially when compared to the crap teen books I've been reading with my daughter lately. She's almost twelve and knows enough to be frustrated with the garbage being peddled to her and her peers these days. Strange the Dreamer stands apart.
The Verdict
A refreshing, entertaining, and at times invigorating fantasy that thankfully does not center on idealized notions of romance but instead on a true quest and mystery.**This post contains affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links you will not be charged extra but I may receive a small commission for the referral. Thank you for supporting my blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment