The story follows Lazlo Strange, a war orphan and librarian in the world of Zosma who undergoes an expedition to the mystic lost city of Weep but discovers it is more than he believed it to be.

He lives with a mundane existence with the monks, dreaming of finding adventure and uncovering lost cities.

Lazlo manages to barter his way on the expedition along with the arrogant godson of Zosma's Queen, Thyon Nero.

They encounter many oddities in their trip, and Eril-Fane tells the history of Weep: once a grand city, 200 years earlier it fell to so called gods.

Lazlo and the explorers meet the despondent citizens, who are frightened by the Citadel and the shadow it casts over the city.

They develop a quick romantic relationship as they share legends and fairy tales, manipulating their dreams to be blissful and wondrous.

One day, Nero discovers that Lazlo's spirit, an essence that flows alongside blood, has an effect on the strange metal.

According to Taylor, the process of finding Strange the Dreamer came from "auditioning all the ideas that have been jostling for space in my head for years...I couldn’t decide...I kept vacillating....I chose the one with a heavy historical component and threw myself into research.

Four or five months later, I had piles of notes but the story wasn’t really coming together and I panicked and jumped ship to the other pitch, which was a little more in my comfort zone, being fantasy."

[2] Kirkus Reviews took note that the novel explored "slavery, trauma, memory, and appropriation" with the conclusion that "lovers of intricate worldbuilding and feverish romance will find this enthralling.

"[3] Publishers Weekly found the novel to be "gorgeously written in language simultaneously dark, lush, and enchanting", noting the third act's pacing as "love blossoms between two young people from warring factions, mysteries of identity develop, and critical events unfold in dreams.