"The moon on a bracelet and the sun in a jar"

"Was it mercy or betrayal? Salvation or doom? Maybe it was all of those things flashing like a flipped coin, end over end- mercy betrayal salvation doom. And how would it come down? [...] The outcome had been rigged from the day they were born."

Witchlight.


I am in absolute awe of the way in which Laini Taylor creates such a vivid world in "Strange The Dreamer". Her characters are round, incredibly fascinating, and beautifully, painfully real. Her world is SO alive. It's breathing and it sucks you right into itself. Just like Alice in Wonderland, you find yourself and your hearts entirely absorbed by this new realm of daydream.

The concept of world-building within the storyline itself is already one of my favourite pivotal concepts in modern fantasy literature I've yet read, even though some of the narrative seemed to hold it back a bit. And this was my main and, probably, only issue with this book. It was so focused on creating clearly detailed, vivid images of this fantasy world that the plot was held back a little much. The gist of the action in the fantasy genre is normally introduced as soon as possible: the main objective for the characters tends to be presented at least within the first half of the novel. But, in the case of "Strange The Dreamer", the turning point was shown at almost the last quarter of the novel.

This might seem like I have a problem as a reader: not being as patient as one would expect from a Literature major. But, reading fantasy novels makes you feel like you're transporting into another realm where the limits of the real world have been blurred. Surely, to create that sensation: the basis of the world the story develops in, has to be strong. However, in this case, it made the mystery lose a bit of its interest and, at times, could even discourage you from continuing reading. So little is given that you have to push yourself through the (still strikingly) beautiful images to get into the story itself.
And sure, fantasy novels require more "world-building", but one story that's centered on a mysterious conflict and the uncovering of magic, should not drag on for so long describing how tedious Lazlo's life is until the real adventure is presented to him and the reader.

NONETHELESS, if you're a Milo Thatch (Atlantis) fangirl like myself, you might also fall in love with the awkwardly sweet librarian whose head is almost always up in the clouds, Lazlo Strange, aka Strange the Dreamer. Not only him, but both godspawn and humans creep their way into your heart, in the way a moth may perch on your brow while you sleep deeply.

  "I'm not a dream," said Sarai. There was bitterness in her voice. "I'm a nightmare."

And my sweet dear, Sarai. What a cinammon roll. You spend the whole novel wishing you could mentally hug her and tell her she's doing just fine. The characters in the novel are richly constructed and feel incredibly human (even if they're not).


Now, a thematic aspect I particularly enjoyed throughout the novel is one which isn't that often portrayed in fantasy-adventure narratives: the questioning of evil and good; the villains and the heroes. Taylor smartly portrays the complexities of any war there ever existed (in the real or our beloved fantasy worlds). Were the bad guys always that bad? Are the good guys always that good?
Many stories create completely plain characters that fit into the heroic and villanous molds without any actual construction, and they tend to tumble. In our day and age, those characters seem infantile. Because, just as Taylor points out, wars are not always conflicts between good and evil:

"She had inherited a story that was strewn with corpses and clotted with enmity, and was only trying to stay alive in it." 

I would comfortably say that the clever way Laini Taylor presents the concept of conflict, firstly, as simplistic, but gradually, developing into the complex issue it really is, is beautiful.

Another lesson Taylor's characters teach the reader is one of hope. It's one of the contrast between the pain and the appreciation for being alive, and how marvellous it can be to fight for the life you dream of. But, also how, in dark days, you may only have strength to chuckle:

"And that's how you go on. You lay laughter over the dark parts. 

The more dark parts, the more you have to laugh. With defiance, with abandon, with hysteria, any way you can." 

It may not seem so at times, but we always have a chance to keep on moving forward. Dreaming is free and laughing is too.  
(If you've read the novel and notice my cursive knowing what each "pun" is referring to, I'm sorry for the easy jokes, but I must definitely make them: it makes me smile with cheekiness.)

If you're in the mood for magic, a more realistic and refreshing portrayal of human (and non-human) conflict and a WHOLE NEW WORRRLD (sorry, I also had to do that): I would definitely recommend you give this book a shot! That is, unless you're a sequel-hater. The second instalment to the series, "Muse of Nightmares"is expected to be published the 2nd of October of 2018. So, hold still now after reading it, or hold still once you read it in the fall just before the new book comes out. I'll be nervously waiting for its release. Until then...


I hope you have a wonderful day!




 
 P.S: "I think you're a fairytale."


 


 

My copy of Laini Taylor's "Strange The Dreamer" is the 2017 hardback Hodder & Stoughton edition.

My Tiffany lamp with firefly details is from a local store.

The moon necklace is from Parfois. 

And the golden dove figure is from a local store in Murano, Italy.