The desert horizon birthed sun after sun, and it seemed as if nothing would ever change. But then, two hundred years ago, the caravans stopped coming. In the western outposts of Elmuthaleth — Alkonost and others — they watched for the heat-distorted silhouettes of camel trains to emerge from the emptiness as they always had, but they did not.

And they did not.

And they did not.

There were no more camels, no more men, no more marvels, and no more stories. Ever. That was the last that was ever heard from the forbidden city, the unseen city, the lost city, and this was the mystery that had opened Lazlo’s mind like a door.

Strange the Dreamer is the first novel in a new series from established fantasy author Laini Taylor. While she’s got a huge dedicated readership, I’d never read anything of hers. From the first page, I knew I’d found something wonderful.

This book is an experience, not just from the first page to the last but from cover to cover. Normally I’m not one to pay much attention to the cover styling, but the saturation, the dynamism present on this cover is a perfect match for the contents. I knew I was holding something special before I even cracked it open, and I was expecting to be let down.

By page 3 I knew it would be everything I’d hoped and so much more.