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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

"Daughter of Smoke and Bone" by Laini Taylor

Release Date: September 27th, 2011
Publisher: Little Brown
Format: Hardcover
Age Group: Young Adult

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


This book, Oh my god! This book is rich with mythology, amazing worlds, characters and emotions. And it's so beautifully written. Seriously, ya'll, Laini Taylor can write! The book switches between Karou and Akiva POV-wise, there are also flashbacks and stories within the story. There is so much going on in this book that you would think it would be hard to keep track, but it's all worked together so perfectly that you don't really miss a beat.

When we first meet Karou she is in Prague, going to art school, and routinely doing errands for Brimstone. Karou doesn't really know who she is or where she came from, but she's been raised by Brimstone, Issa, Yasri and Twiga. They are all Chimaera, monsters to the outside world, and Brimstone's shop is the portal between Earth and their world. Of course Karou doesn't really know their world exists, she's never been allowed to go there and as far as she knows her four Chimaera are the only ones. Until one day all of the portals to Brimstone's shop from Earth burn, forever cutting Karou off from her family.

Akiva is a soldier. He's spent his life killing Chimaera and that's okay with him. Until he meets Karou. Once he sees her for the first time, he can't stop thinking about her. Karou doesn't want to trust him at first. He tried to kill her after all, but as we learn more about his past and they spend more time together, their connection is undeniable. The characters in this book have such amazing back stories and reading about all of the fantastic things they've been apart of, almost made me believe it could be real. And with an ending like the one from Daughter of Smoke and Bone...

I really am not doing this book justice. This one isn't to be missed, guys!

11 comments:

  1. The concept of the Chimaera sounds interesting. Also, I love the cover of this book! Great review!

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  2. I keep seeing this book everywhere! I really want to read it. Glad to read that you loved it. Happy reading!

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  3. For some reason I thought this book was a second book in a series so I've been ignoring reviews on it. Yours is the first one I actually read and now I know that I have to get myself a copy!

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  4. Gah, great review! I can't wait to give this book a reread soon.... I already miss the characters and this world Laini Taylor created.

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  5. @fairypenguin Thanks! And the cover is so much prettier in person :0)

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  6. @Mrs. Q: Book Addict It is absolutely worth the read! You should check it out if you get the chance :0)

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  7. @Kristina I'm so glad my review could help. This is a must read, it's so pretty :0)

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  8. @Stephanie (PoetrytoProse.com) Thanks! And I am so with you, I am already pining for the second book!

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  9. I can't wait to read this!! Nice review, dude! =)

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  10. I'm so glad you liked DoS&B. It is one of the best new releases I've seen so far this year, and it's set in one of my favorite cities, too. Thanks for the review.

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