Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor | Book Review

Title: Strange the Dreamer
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 28th, 2017
Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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.

What I thought

  Gather around, young ones, and let me tell you all about how much I loved this marvelous and imaginative story, though I'm not sure words will suffice. Why? You ask, well because this book was so insanely beautiful I've just been experiencing the worst book hangover to ever ail a bookworm. It was that good and beautiful and just a masterpiece.

Now, Laura, it couldn't possibly have been that good? THIS BOOK IS LIFE, YOUNG ONES. It will get you in its trap with its beautiful prose and its quirky main character and it will hold you enraptured as the secrets and story start to unravel and it will make you wish you could even gaze upon Weep. It will make you want for things you didn't even know you wanted AND IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY.* Then it will make you proceed to write in your journal with just A VOMIT OF FEELS BECAUSE DAMN IT.

*at least it made me cry and since I have as a rule as little feelings as possible this really was something

Why all the drama? Because I love this story and these characters more than words can possibly explain. Why? Well, because of how complex and beautiful it all was and they all were. Also, because this book could so be used as a metaphor for the real world and damn, Lazlo's dream was a beautiful thing and I'm so emotional about it all. I WAS JUST A WRECK AND YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK, PRONTO!

Have you read Strange the Dreamer? If so, did you love it as much as I do or more? Come cry with me about it.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo | Review

Title:  Crooked Kingdom
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Publisher: Henry Colt & Co.
Publication Date: September 27th, 2016
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

When you can’t beat the odds, change the game. Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

What I thought 

Now, it's no secret that Six of Crows was my favorite book of 2015. It was just everything I love in my books: dark, adventurous, just a bit angsty, and it had a cast of characters as complex as real people. All of which are, in my book, excellent qualities to have in a book. So, when it came to its sequel I was as pumped as a little kid for Christmas. I figured it would only be better, bigger and that more heisting would occur. All of which I was ready for. However, I didn't think Crooked Kingdom was as good as Six of Crows. It was pretty damn good, don't get me wrong I loved it, but I love Six of Crows more.

Scandalous, isn't it? I've been breaking my head trying to figure what is it that I liked about Six of Crows more than I liked about Crooked Kingdom. In all honesty, I can't say what it is. I just know that I couldn't put Six of Crows down and I could put Crooked Kingdom down. It was still a super good book but it lacked something. (If you too felt this way please let me know what it was because it's driving me crazy).

That being said, I want to talk about the parts I did love about this book, and believe me there were plenty. So, onward to the gushing and the fangirling!

I loved the character development. I loved how everyone our little band of six people faced their demons and came out better because of it. I love these characters and so, seeing them grow and expand and keep being their complicated little selves only a bit better, was extremely satisfying. I kid you not, I felt like a proud mom at the end of this book.

I loved the character dynamics as well. The relationships these people have with each other are fascinating, and if anything I wish there had been a little less planning involved and much more banter. I wished more conversations had happened in the book. I live for the witty banter and I missed some of it here. However, the way the Dregs look after each other and take care of each other (most of them reluctantly, because a healthy show of concern in the Barrel will get you killed and no one wants that) and are like a tight little odd family. 

And of course, Bardugo's writing didn't disappoint. Neither did the little cameos by some of my favorite Grisha trilogy characters. That is all I'm going to say about that, but it was great.

Some things were lacking in this book for me, like more Kaz chapters and more dialogue and I did feel the conflict extended a little too much so by the time the Big Showdown happened I was kind of weary. However, it was still great and awesome and a pretty damn good close to this little duology.