REVIEW: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

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 grows dangerously low.

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

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; 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.

I have to say that I know this book was going to be good. And yet I still had no idea. The word “hfedosanvdjksnvjdfiuh” comes to mind for how I feel. This is exactly the kind of book I love to read. Dark, beautiful, fantasy. The places that Laini Taylor paints in this book are astounding. Prague is nitty, gritty and yet charming in a macabre way. I adore that.

I love that the title played such a role in the story, as well as the little breaks, which let to the next part of the story. Everything tied together. What was great was that Karou knew almost nothing about her family’s world, but it didn’t feel like that. She didn’t ask unnecessary questions, she just figured it all out through time. It kind of helped that she’d probably asked all those annoying questions before we entered the story since she lived there. Either way, it worked.

The characters were amazing. I loved everyone. Brimstone was greatly depicted in that he was a complete mystery, but it was clear that he cared very deeply for Karou. Kaz was a fun ex-boyfriend character, and I kind of wish he’d caused more mischief or just been there a little bit more. Zuzana was my favorite with her quick repertoire of hilarious remarks to cause total embarrassment for her best friend at all times.

The one character I wasn’t total in love with was Akiva. I don’t know if it was because of his part in the story, or if he just wasn’t as vivid a character, but he just didn’t pop like everyone else. Sure, he was gorgeous, but I’m more of a “what’s on the inside” kind of gal. His point in this book was to assist Karou in figuring out who and/or what she is. He did well in that aspect, and he was enticed and fell in love with Karou as all books should go. Yet still, something just wasn’t perfect.

Oh yeah! The ending. He keeps a huge secret from Karou until the very end of the book (like the last chapter before the epilogue), and I’m not talking about her identity. He should have told her the repercussions of his action from the very beginning. She’s talking about change, but he neglected to tell her that change has already come. It really made me angry, and I really just wanted her to slap him (in the face, and without a glove on). But it all piqued my interest and I’m going to get the next book and read it up before the final installment is released.

All in all, I definitely recommend this book. It’s incredibly beautiful to read and it offers up a new idea of what “heaven and hell” are like. That was great to read. I love new ideas, and this book had it all. It was beautiful and captivating, and I had no idea what to expect.

XOXO Tia