It was definitely not what I had expected, neither in tone nor in telling, and I hesitantly say I struggled with motivation to keep going for the first quarter (or so) of the novel. As a result, it took me more time than I had anticipated to really get into the book.

I am not really sure there is a better way to describe the writing style, which told what I would otherwise categorize as a very well paced story, in a melodious, sometimes molasses-like, manner. “Reading Strange the Dreamer was actually like reading in, or from, a dream. So, now that you know all that super exciting personal background, here’s what I thought about this incredibly highly touted novel. Also, in that spirit full disclosure, I thought Daughter of Smoke and Bone was one of the best YA trilogies I had ever read (which remains true), while I really enjoyed, but was not quite as entranced, with the Grisha trilogy. However, there is one difference in the two experiences that I will admit may make a difference: I jumped into this duology before the second one was published, so while I was able to read the whole Six of Crows story all together, I’m stuck in the awful “waiting for the next book to be published” limbo for Strange the Dreamer’s story. In this case, though still fantastic, I have to say I enjoyed that first series I read by Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, better. In that first case, Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom, I thought the second set was better even than the first. This is the second time in the last month or so that I have a read a second novel, or more specifically duology, from a YA author whose prior trilogy I had loved.

Strange the dreamer series in order