Lazlo Strange was an orphan found in an orchard. Adopted by monks, he lived an austere life in the monastery. This life was only enlivened by the stories told by an ancient monk, and by the escapades in the gardens of the monastery. In possession of a vivid imagination and powerful dreams, Lazlo saw himself as a hero of ancient tales, none closer to his heart than that of the mythic lost city of Weep.
Once upon a time, across the vast desert stood a city wealthy beyond belief, where cakes were left on windowsills for anyone to take, where candy was as sweet as honey, and where strangers were not allowed on the pain of death. That city had a wonderful name, but that name was tragically lost when Lazlo was five years old. The city suddenly lost its name, and neither Lazlo nor anyone else could remember what it was.
Charged with delivering a package to a city near the monastery, Lazlo visits the library for the first time, and never lives. Hired first as a helper then as a librarian, he immerses himself in the old books and legends, always trying to pierce together the mystery of Weep. What happened that the city lost its name? Unfortunately for him, the city lays too far, and has too many dangers, to ever explore it so Lazlo contents himself with life in the library.
Then the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself when the legend of Weep becomes real. The Godslayer, the man responsible for killing the gods that ruled Weep, presents himself and his large band of fearsome warriors to the Queen, seeking to assemble a caravan of experts who could solve the riddle of Weep, his city. Lazlo jumps at the chance, although as a librarian his abilities to solve this mystery are slim to none. Accompanied by experts in the field of mining, explosives, flying, magic, and other critical subjects, the group head out to Weep across the vast desert. What they discover defies comprehension.
Above the city flies a large angel with wings spread. Made of a strange metal, the angel blocks the sun and keeps Weep in a perpetual twilight even at noon. There are no cakes on the windowsills, and the population remains in fear of the gods that ruled them for hundreds of years. Now these gods are dead, but the hovering citadel remains a potent sign of their former domination. The Godslayer provides them with a simple task. Move or destroy the citadel.
Aboard the citadel, five children survived the massacre engineered by the Godslayer, and remained hidden for fifteen years. These children have grown up, and as Godspawns, they possess strange powers, none stranger than Sarai, who at night releases moths from her mouth. These moths descend on Weep, and watch the sleeping population. They can also deliver nightmares, and for years Sarai has haunted the dreams of the local inhabitants, seeking to punish them for their destruction of her parents. Over this time, however, she also gained a sense of humanity's desires and frailties, while humans remain caricatures for her siblings.
When Lazlo and his companions arrive in Weep with the Godslayer, Sarai immediately sees the risks that they pose of being able to access the flying citadel. Lazlo is not like the other humans, however, and Sarai finds herself attracted to this strange man who has even stranger dreams, and who can even see her in his dream, when no one else can. Can the two of them manage to close the gap between their people before it's too late?
Beautifully written, this fantastic tale will be appreciated by all readers for its humanity and its amazing world building.
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