Daughter of Smoke & Bone: The Complete Gift Set

Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1-3

by Laini Taylor

The perfect gift for readers who want to be swept away.
The Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy Gift Set includes three hardcovers: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Days of Blood & Starlight, and Dreams of Gods & Monsters.

From master storyteller and National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes a sweeping and gorgeously written modern fantasy series about a forbidden love, an ancient and epic battle, and hope for a world remade.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

1330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 21, 2014

About the author

Hi! I write fantasy books. My latest is STRANGE THE DREAMER, about a young librarian, a mythic lost city, and the half-human children of murdered gods. Check it out :-) Before that I wrote the DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE trilogy, which has been translated into 32 languages. It's about a blue-haired art student raised by monsters, a broken angel, and a war that has raged for 1000 years in another world. I also wrote LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES, which was a National Book Award finalist, and the DREAMDARK books. As well as various short stories and novellas.

Thanks for reading!!

www.lainitaylor.com

@lainitaylor

Reviews

[LotusFlower · Rating 5 out of 5]

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*I DO NOT RECAP THE BOOKS IN MY REVIEWS, THAT IS WHAT THE BOOK DESCRIPTION IS FOR. NOR DO I HAVE SPOILERS*
This review can also be found on my blog, http://abitchandabookreview.blogspot.... as well as free book listings, new book release dates, and a wealth of other cool stuff!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy Overall Review

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The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy is right up there at the top of the BEST BOOK SERIES I HAVE EVER READ. I actually put off reading this series and I have no idea why. If I would have known beforehand what an impact it would have on me, I would have read this series a lot earlier. The book description was not super appealing to me, interesting, but didn't grab me at first. A lead character named Karou with blue hair that does weird crap. But let me tell you, this series is SO MUCH MORE.
The story had me from beginning to end and I have to say that I am astonished by the level of intricacy found in the storyline. The characters, the setting, each and every detail blew my mind away! This series has probably the highest level of creativity I have every encountered. There is a bit of everything: romance (not overdone and girly either, yay!), action, adventure, extreme conflict with heartbreak with a satisfying resolution. I found that I was actually feeling an emotional investment in these books to the characters and story which is rare for me. I cannot begin to tell you how incredible this series is so please do yourself a favor and take the time to read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy! Seriously, stop whatever the hell you are doing and get that book read, you will not regret it!

I will even go as far as giving this book series my rare and much coveted ultimate stamp of approval:

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DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE MOVIE!

It was announced in late 2013 that Daughter of Smoke and Bone was picked up by Universal Pictures to be the next biggest YA book to movie adaptation. At first, I was overjoyed because the second I finished reading the series I thought "God that would be an incredible movie!" However, the more I thought about it, the more I begin to doubt it. The movie budget would have to literally be at least $500 million or more spent on mostly CGI and special effects to even begin to do justice to all the detail in the character and worlds depicted in the books. Realistically, movie studios will not shovel out that much on the first movie of a potential trilogy. It is my opinion that books are always so much better than the movie and I really hope that a crappy depiction of Daughter of Smoke and Bone on film does not have a negative impact on the book series. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie is a clear example of what damage a movie can have on a book series. That book series was phenomenal but the movie was not the greatest reflection of that and the marketing was garbage so the sequel just barely received the green light and who knows how that one will do. It's a total shame too because The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series are also on my top book series list and the movie potential is beyond high if done correctly. Currently, there is not much information on when the Daughter of Smoke and Bone movie is set to be released or the cast but I think we won't see it out until at least 2016. I wouldn't mind waiting longer because I hope that the movie does the series justice as it would be a true optical masterpiece!

[Alan Denham · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very promising start ...

But sadly didn't live up to it.

I had been seeing this book 'around' for a while - advertised, in the bookshops, on Goodreads users lists, etc, so I thought I would give it a try.

The first 30% or thereabouts was very good! The author has come up with a promising variation on the 'Angels versus Demons' theme where both sides are at the very least morally ambiguous, and possibly in role reversal. The background is skilfully built up, the principal character is shown in a nicely explained context, the reader is gently drawn into the world, it all looks very promising indeed ...

And then it all goes wrong - for me, at least. Somewhere between 30 and 40%, a thread that had been kept in check (the old 'Supernatural Romance' trope) grew into prominence. No, not even that - by 50% it had taken over entirely. All that promising world-building, all that interesting magical system - sacrificed to a simple supernatural romance, full of setbacks, etc - we all know the way they work.

And I'm sorry, romance is definitely not my thing! I like to see a little of it, as a minor thread, supporting the story and the character development, but here it has become the main theme, with all else relegated to minor supporting roles.

OK, let's be fair, there are plenty of people out there who like that, and to them I say - Enjoy! This is an interesting world, and there is some good writing here. I would go further - this is the first book in a trilogy, and the dominance of the Supernatural Romance trope may be overturned further down the line . . but sorry, unless I see a review that confirms that possibility, I shan't be reading it.

The first 25-30% deserved a comfortable 4 stars, I even considered 5 - but by the time I reached 75% I was ready to give up. I only finished it because I hate to review something I haven't finished.

I am giving 2 stars because the writing quality is pretty good, and I know that romance readers will like this - but I am not one of them.

[Nathalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

He leído muchísimos libros.. y muchísimas sagas.
Algunas son muy buenas, otras muy malas.
Algunas son un gran cliché, siempre lo mismo (chica medio nerd que se enamora del tipo lindo que resulta siendo algo paranormal).
Algunas sagas son más originales que otras. Algunas crean distopias, otras no.

PERO NUNCA he leído algo como esto.
Esta es, para mí, la mejor saga contemporanea. No solo ha creado una distopía MUY original, sino que también la ha entrelazado con el mundo que conocemos. Ha logrado mezclar lo común (con personakes totalmente humanos) con lo "sobrenatural", que en este caso no es simplemente un monstruo o un vampiro, sino los habitantes de otro plano, de otra existencia.
Laini Taylor creó un mundo con sus propias reglas, que en muchas cosas coincide con el nuestro, pero que en muchas otras difiere.

Cada personaje en esta saga es especial. No hay un solo personaje que esté ahí por casualidad. Todos, hasta el que parece ser el más insignificante, tiene su personalidad, su forma de ser, su historia y su razón de existir en la novela.
Es increible.

El primer libro los presenta una situación cotidiana efímera y un montón de misterios. TANTOS que le toma a la autora tres libros para poder terminar de develarlos. Y no deja ni un solo cabo suelto.
Cada pregunta que me surgió durante la lectura, incluso las más ridículas y extravagantes, encontraron su respuesta tarde o temprano.

No me voy a poner a contar de qué se trata la saga, para eso hay resúmenes y otras reseñas. Lo que yo quiero destacar es la calidad del texto y de su traducción. Cada palabra, cada punto y cada coma están ahí por algo. Todo es importante, todo tiene un propósito.

Además, es una saga cruda. Muestra lo bueno y lo malo. La paz y la guerra. El amor y el odio. Todo eso tal y como es. No se guarda nada, no censura. Personajes con historias que te hacen llorar, y personajes con vidas tan simples que te hacen reir.

No hay una forma correcta para describir la saga.
LÉANLA. Es lo único que puedo decirles.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, Complex, Dark. Heartbreaking & Breathtaking! A Beautiful Read! I Loved It!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://jukeboxmuse.com/2014/05/06/onc...

The world that Laini Taylor builds in this series is very complex and very thorough. Much like The Hunger Games series, each book in the trilogy represents a different stage in the overall conflict: Daughter of Smoke and Bone introduces readers to Karou, an art student in Prague who lives with a family of chimaera (creatures made up of different animal parts, like, for example, a gryphon). She helps collect teeth for Brimstone, her chimaera father, but has no idea why he needs them. When she meets and falls in love with the angel Akiva, she discovers that she is part of a thousand-year war between angels and chimaera in the parallel world of Eretz. Days of Blood and Starlight deals with the aftermath of war and the process of organizing a rebellion. Karou, in discovering her past self, realizes that Akiva has betrayed her and her family. While Karou works, she deals with her desolation and slowly recovers, reacquainting her past self with her current self. Dreams of Gods and Monsters begins with a rebellion and ends by bursting the entire story wide open. Karou and Akiva discover a backstory to the backstory they thought they had figured out. The war between angels and chimaera, no longer contained in Eretz, collides with human history on Earth. Karou and Akiva achieve their main goal, to end war and tyranny, only to discover an even bigger threat to their newly acquired peace.

As anyone can see from the plot overview, Laini Taylor has created a layered world inhabited by well-rounded characters. But rarely do I encounter an author who can build complex worlds and characters while maintaining a hilarious narrative voice. She tells her story like an epic legend through beautiful, dream-like prose but also keeps everyone sane with hilarious dialogue. Taylor's blend of epic description and humorous reality-checks is effective because she understands when to reveal a crucial piece of plot and when to take a step back and note the ridiculousness of a situation. As Karou and her best friend Zuzana watch the angel and chimaera armies attempt to form an alliance and share their food rations, Zuzana remarks:

You know what would be good now?” Zuzana whispered, when the sounds of spoons on plates had mostly quieted. “Chocolate. Never attempt an alliance without chocolate.

With that statement, it's impossible not to smile in one of the most tense situations of the series. Taylor balances these quips with abundant richness of description: she develops both her characters and her world with care, treating the color of a tree's leaves with the same curious reverence as a soldier's fatigue. She describes one of Karou's "aha!" moments with lyricism:

Her heart started to pound. An idea was taking shape. She didn’t give voice to it, but let its traceries unfurl, following them and searching for defects, anticipating what the arguments would be against it. Could it be this simple?

Taylor offers the perfect blend of quirky humor and sad beauty. The only other author I know who is able to manage such a balance is Tamora Pierce with her Tortall series.

Taylor boasts a solid cast of characters too. The main couple, Karou and Akiva, are definitely an OTP (One True Pairing). Their forbidden relationship, centered around a period of happiness surrounded by grief and loss, is strangely attractive. But the supporting characters make this series especially well-rounded: Karou's best friend Zuzana is a tiny, feisty puppeteer, master of the eyebrow arch. She is the reason for every uncontrollable bout of laughter I had while reading:

Zuzana Nováková was a pretty girl. She’d often been compared to a doll, or to a fairy, not just because of her slight stature but also her fine, small face...Deciding to take her on was akin to a fish deciding idly to gobble up that pretty light bobbing in the shadows and then— OH GOD THE TEETH THE HORROR!— meeting the anglerfish on the other side. Zuzana didn’t eat people. She withered them."

Other memorable characters: Akiva’s sister Liraz is an uncrackable warrior with so many chimaera death tallies on her hands that her arms look like black sleeves. The White Wolf, leader of the chimaera rebellion, is full of plying charm and an unnerving love of killing. Again, I could go on.

Taylor’s handling of the crossover between Eretz and Earth, between fiery angels, demon-like chimaera and humans, is also applaud-worthy. She takes a very basic human belief, and asks us to re-evaluate it: Angels are good, and demons are bad, right? Then who do we support when the war between the two invades our daily lives on Earth? Should Liraz be punished because of the chimaera she’s killed or be honored? Should Karou’s surrogate father Brimstone die because he has scary horns? Taylor reminds us that all of our preconceptions started from a whisper, a rumor, a story. This idea that basic human beliefs are all relative appears much more in Dreams of Gods and Monsters. As Taylor rewrites Eretz’s history and consequently Earth’s history, the feeling that “nothing makes sense anymore” is just present enough to tip the reader off balance.

Of course, whenever an author tries to bend time and space and history, there is always a chance that the story arc will spiral out of control. Halfway through the final book, I started worrying about how Taylor was going to tie everything together. Using her third book to expand the backstory and character roster was risky. Just look at George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones series--HBO might finish it before he does! As I mentioned, Taylor ends her story a bit unconventionally:

It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle— at last, after so many fraught beginnings.

Most of the time, ending with a beginning just leaves fans totally pissed off. But Taylor wraps up her initial plot neatly and leaves us with the knowledge of a satisfying future ordeal. Because she reassures readers that each character has a renewed purpose, we are content to end in this intersection. After all, if you survive reading all three books, you've also survived a war, a rebellion, and a prophecy with these characters. So when Taylor asks us to let these beloved fictional people go, we trust in their ability to attack the endless future possibilities. It's An End, not The End.

If Taylor ever decides to write a fourth book, I'm 100% positive that she'll create an epic journey filled with renewed vigor. She has set up more than enough material to explore. But if she doesn't, that's fine too. Though I'm accustomed to getting my happy endings like everybody else is, I sit here wholly satisfied and deeply touched.

Rating: 9 - so crazy good that if the plot, characters, and world were real I would just run away and join them

[Catka · Rating 4 out of 5]

So. I bought this trilogy when I fell in love with Laini´s writing while reading Strange the Dreamer, because I thought I wanted to read practically anything written by her. Unfortunately, I did not notice, this trilogy was written several years prior to the Dreamer and it is neither as mature nor written as exquisitely as the Dreamer. More´s the pity.
Also, as much as I liked the characters of Zuzana and Mik, mainly for the comic relief, they were a discomfiting element for me, as I come from their culture actually, and there were several details, which just did not fit. (for example, you do not call anyone by their full name Zuzana, if you are on friendly personal terms with them, you would call them Zuzka or Zuza or Zuzi - if you are addressing them directly. If I suddenly addressed my friend as Zuzana, she would probably think there is some kind of trouble between us. I have no idea what kind of name is Mik.) If you are having characters from a different country, why not research them properly (or at least have a native to check on the bigger blunders)? Also, the narrator of the audiobook saw fit to narrate them in some strange Russian accent. Come the f*ck on, not all Eastern Europeans are Russians!
My other gripe with the books was that they were too much dragged out and much too long, as if the author said she did not need a good editor. But I think a good editor would have made them into a more palatable shorter and better versions of themselves. I have switched to the audiobook at book 3, just because of its length, which was almost as long as the first two put together, and I was already a bit bored in places of the book 2.
And yet, in spite of the length, the wordiness and character inconsistencies, and also the fact that neither fantasy nor YA are my favourite genres (I rarely pick up a YA book), the books kept me interested (most of the time anyway), intrigued and invested in characters. I do appreciate that in my reading. And I will definitely keep an eye out for more Laini Taylor´s books.

[Cosmic Sher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where has Laini Taylor been hiding? She's a new author for me and I'm gobsmacked at her talent for words, for characterizations, for storytelling. She is a true STORYTELLER with all big caps! This trilogy is nothing you've ever read before and it holds up through all three books, leaving you so satisfied but yearning for more at the end. It's Beautiful, people! Just read the darn thing already!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really not sure quite how to convey how very much I enjoyed this series. I will try with just a few words. The story is unique. I am a huge fan of the Fantasy/ Sci-Fi genre. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy was that and more. There was a fairy tale quality that made the story jump right off the pages. I spent a week reading the series, beginning to end. Laini Taylor did a masterful job of building a world within/around/without. The characters were drawn in technicolor clarity. My favorites: Zuzana, Ziri, and Eliza. As I read, I have a tendency to highlight passages when they resonate or inspire. One of my favorites: "Love is an element." Brilliant! While there were quite a few highlights with books 1 and 2, I wound-up just sticking a post-it on the cover of the 3rd novel, Dreams of Gods & Monsters. It reads: TREASURE CHEST OF SOLID GOLD.

I know that I will read this series many times. I will recommend it to everyone, young and old. I will continue to wish and hope for a graphic companion novel...Karou's Sketchbook <--- that would be pure genius!

[maiaaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i definitely need to read this again

This is such a good series, with quotes that make you question the lines between good and evil. Brimstone is such an amazing character, but my favorite will forever be Zuze.




**SPOILERS**
Okay I think Ziri was one of the best characters introduces as he helps guide Karou when she begins to stray and lose herself. Karou was such a good resurrecter(?) and I loved how we got to see the exhaustion (mental and physical) it takes her to fulfill her job. I’m so glad she could bring peace with Akiva.

[Elise Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this series down! It took a couple chapters for me to get really into it, the first book is deceptively weird/contemporary. It just gets better and better! Adventure, mystery, forbidden love, wars, magic, all the good things! The angels vs monsters bit was absolutely thrilling and exciting. I felt the highest of highs and the deepest of lows with these characters and love them all! It is rare that you find an author who can tell a great story and do so beautifully. This writing is absolutely beautiful. Almost poetry! Will be rereading again someday

[Rachael Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book is good. The sequels... meh.

[bookSmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. I consider myself a reader of light-fantasy, so this series was a stretch for me and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the read. One of the reasons I shy away from traditional fantasy novels is because of the complicated characters otherworldly settings. This could have been a complicated series, but the settings and characters were clearly developed (so I was rarely confused or overwhelmed).

I want to hang out with 17 year-old Karou in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I want to peak into her artsy sketchbooks, her life in Prague, and Brimstone’s dusty shop. Karou is relatable as she struggles with belonging, her identity and sense of self. She is one of my favorite recent YA heroines.

I am drawn to many other characters. Karou’s sarcasm is balanced by her best friend Zuzana’s quirky humor (unfortunately, I found her more interesting than Akiva, the male protagonist). Also, it says a lot when I, someone who hates snakes, have a soft-spot for the Chimera snake-woman Issa. I rarely like supporting characters this much.

The vivid settings were well developed: Prague, Morocco and Elsewhere. I’m surprised Poison Kitchen isn’t real or that I can’t go visit Monster Castle or the Kirin Caves. I am amazed by Laini Taylor’s imagination.

Laini Taylor’s writing is poetic. It is a slower read than most plot-driven YA books that drive readers to rush. There were times when I wanted increased pacing, but the strong sentences kept me going.
“For the way loneliness is worse when you return to it after a reprieve—like the soul’s version of putting on a wet bathing suit, clammy and miserable.” (Book 1)
Many sentences cause pause as they explore the theme of prejudice.
“It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry ‘Monster!’ and looked behind him.” (Book 1)
Be patient as you read the books, savor the sentences.

My least favorite parts of the book are the fate-centric passages about soul mates. The relationship between Karou and Akiva lacked depth. I was curious about them in Book 1. I liked Madrigal and Akiva most during the masquerade in Book 2 (but otherwise didn’t relate to Madrigal). Unfortunately their soul-mate connection just felt shallow which didn’t fit because everything else seemed so relatable. I found the relationship between Zizana and Mik more interesting and believable. This contrast, made Karou and Akiva’s relationship seem even more lacking.

Overall, I was surprised by how captivated I was by Karou and her worlds. The themes of perception, prejudice and tolerance are capped off with hope. I would recommend the series to fantasy readers and those who are willing to stretch themselves.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

To those who haven't read this book yet, I strongly recommend that you go to your nearest book store and buy it or read it in ebook cuz this book definitely is the best among the romance supernatural genre combination out there... Karou and Akiva is our modern Romeo and Juliet, our another version of Katniss and Peeta (star-crossed lovers)... I am truly in love in the story, really BELIEVE ME!!!. An angel and a devil connected by a string of love BUT can never be together because of their differences, how sad... But what can we do? What can others do? We can't stop their love!! They are really in love with each other and can take desperate measures to close the gap of differences between them... Okay!! That's my comment in the story, I should stop now to avoid *spoilers*... To summarize it all this BOOK IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!! You will regret it for the rest of your lives if you won't read this SUPER AMAZING STORY!!!

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kureha - per RFS
.
Oggi vi narro di miti e leggende, di guerre e magia, e di un amore che vince i secoli oltre alla morte stessa. Una storia poetica e tragica, ricca di difficoltà, di incomprensioni ma, soprattutto, di grande speranza per un cambiamento, per la pace e per un futuro migliore.

La trilogia di cui mi accingo a raccontarvi, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, parla di Karou, una ragazza diciassettenne che vive a Praga, studentessa in una scuola d’arte con bellissimi capelli blu. All’inizio appare una come tante: impegnata con lo studio, disturbata da un ex ragazzo e che si diverte insieme sua grande amica Zuzana. In realtà la sua vita è molto complessa e lo sta per diventare ancora di più: la sua famiglia, infatti, è decisamente fuori dal comune perché composta da chimere, esseri in parte uomini e in parte animali di diverse specie. Le hanno affidato un compito strano, che avrà un risvolto importante: raccogliere denti di umani e animali. Sarà proprio durante uno dei suoi viaggi “di lavoro” che Karou si imbatte in un angelo tutt’altro che gentile e scopre così che in un altro mondo, sotto un altro cielo, chimere e serafini lottano e si scontrano da secoli, lontani dagli occhi della razza umana. Una guerra sanguinosa che porterà Karou a rivalutare se stessa, il suo passato e soprattutto il suo futuro.

Il primo grande pregio di questa trilogia è sicuramente l’originalità. Laini Taylor riesce a creare una trama complessa, ben intrecciata e ricca di colpi di scena. Vengono presentate diverse sottotrame che si uniscono nel corso dei diversi capitoli, plasmando una storia intrigante e coinvolgente. In essa non troviamo il solito scontro tra angeli buoni e bestie cattive: ogni popolo ha i suoi pregi e suoi difetti, ognuno di essi conta tra le sue fila soldati sanguinari e compassionevoli.

Il worldbuilding è affascinante e molto curato: pur partendo da una città nota come Praga, si amplia sempre più presentandoci il mondo di Eretz, la struttura sociale che lo regola, l’escursus storico (che include le cause della guerra) e le diverse tipologie di chimere e serafini che lo abitano. Anche il sistema magico, con le sue leggi e le sue eccezioni, viene spiegato gradualmente lasciando, a mio parere, anche lo spazio per un ulteriore approfondimento.

Per quanto riguarda i personaggi li ho trovati articolati, ben caratterizzati e in costante crescita.

Karou è una ragazza giovane e forte, che sente costantemente la mancanza di qualcosa. La sua vita non è semplice e con il passare del tempo dovrà affrontare moltissime difficoltà che la porteranno anche a sbagliare. Mi è piaciuta molto nel primo e nell’ultimo romanzo in cui emerge la sua grande forza d’animo, mentre nel secondo ho faticato a entrare in sintonia con lei, perché a un certo punto mi è sembrato che si fosse arresa: chiusa nel suo bozzolo senza chiedersi ciò che accadeva intorno a sé, schiacciata dalla vergogna e dal senso di colpa che si era auto-attribuita. Avrei preferito che reagisse, si discolpasse e affrontasse con la sua solita forza i problemi, ma capisco anche il suo punto di vista e la sofferenza provata, nonostante tutto sono contenta che sia riuscita a rialzarsi e a farsi valere.

Akiva, il serafino dagli occhi di fuoco, è intelligente, determinato e intraprendente. Pur nel patimento, una volta che ha finalmente ritrovato il suo amore, riesce a perseguire la speranza di cambiare gli eventi e volgerli in suo favore. Lotta incessantemente contro il destino che a volte sembra favorirlo, mentre altre gli rema contro causando continue incomprensioni.

La loro storia non è un lento conoscersi reciproco, ma piuttosto l’incontro di due anime affini, che già dal primo sguardo sono legate indissolubilmente tra loro. Una passione romantica che si scontra con le difficoltà di due mondi distanti e con gli eventi.

Parlando dei personaggi secondari devo dire che li ho davvero amati: dall’esuberante Zuzana al romantico Mik, dal dolce Ziri alla cupa Liraz, fino ad arrivare alla famiglia di chimere di Karou. Anche i più odiosi, come Thiago, Jael e Razgut, non lasciano indifferenti a causa della costruzione magistrale dei loro caratteri: l’odio e il disgusto che provocano sono incontestabili e mostrano la capacità e la volontà dell’autrice di trasmettere determinate emozioni.

Per quanto riguarda la scrittura, non ho un parere molto definito e preciso, perché varia in base a ciò che si considera. Ho apprezzato tanto, per esempio, il costante passaggio da un punto di vista a un altro e dagli eventi presenti a quelli passati perché, pur rallentando un poco la narrazione, tutto ciò ha uno scopo preciso: quello di mantenere viva l’attenzione e scatenare la curiosità; ti lascia sul filo del rasoio con il desiderio di sapere quel che accadrà.

Lo stile, invece, l’ho trovato in alcuni momenti un po’ troppo lento per i miei gusti: la scrittrice si sofferma molto sull’esposizione dei pensieri e dei tormenti interiori dei vari personaggi con descrizioni ridondanti che sfiorano a volte la poesia. Nel primo volume questo soffermarsi mi è piaciuto, perché permette di conoscere molto bene i protagonisti e dare un contesto adeguato alla storia. Dal secondo libro in poi, però, mi ha un po’ infastidito, in quanto rallenta ulteriormente il ritmo in un momento in cui l’intreccio si fa ricco di azione e la curiosità è alle stelle. Credo che lettori più romantici di me lo apprezzerebbero molto proprio per il suo tendere alla poetica.

In definitiva, credo sia una trilogia da leggere almeno una volta per la sua dolcezza, la sua originalità e la rappresentazione ricca di sfaccettature dei personaggi.

La consiglio a chi ama i fantasy che uniscono la magia di mondi immaginari alla bellezza delle nostre città e che sanno coniugare una storia d’amore tormentata con una trama ricca di sorprese.

[Michelle Gourley · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 Ignore the cover art. Its offputting and has nothing at all to do with the storyline. Publisher fail.
#2 The rhythm of the storytelling/writing is outstanding, especially in the first two books. Her delivery and timing is just spot on. A joy to read.
#3 This series was this year's "Hunger Games" or "Divergent" for me- a YA series with a forward moving plot that prompted lots of non plot-related thinking about "bigger issues" like war, family, cultural identity, etc. Likable female protagonist. Satisfying outcome.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quite positive I do not have enough words in my vocabulary to describe my feelings towards this trilogy. As I said to my husband, this is like Harry Potter levels of good and I am swept away. Loved it. So much that I will now demand that everyone I know (who I deem worthy of this level of awesomeness) read it too. So much love.

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have done a 3 star as this entire series was 3.6 overall but decided to give it a 4 as it at least deserves this.

First book amazing.

World building, idea of everything , characters, romance amazing but last 2 books this all decreases

Then as series goes down so does quality sadly. Last book was not it sadly it was meh 🤧

[Bored to Death book club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binge watching is the new black, but as we deal in books we'll binge read a whole bunch of series for you and write about them. Be aware though, we'll discuss the entire series, so expect there to be spoilers. Skip the books-section if you don't want to know what happens.

What is the series about?
Daughter of Smoke & Bone is a YA fantasy trilogy, tackling angels and chimaeras. A young girl with a mysterious background is living in Prague, studying at an art school. No one really knows where Karou comes from, but with her bright blue hair that never seems to grow out and strange drawings of monsters, she's definitely the subject of lots of rumors. Together with her best friend, snippy/amazing Zuzana, they hang out at their favorite death-themed restaurant and enjoy drawing and puppetry. But Karou gets called out on mysterious errands of which one leads her to Marrakesh. Here she locks eyes with Akiva, a seraphim (angel), and the mystery of Karou slowly starts to unravel. What follows is a great mythology of 'angels & demons' written with wit and excitement. I have to say that the synopsis and subject matter didn't immediately catch my interest and I went into this series with low expectations, but I was wrong and I will admit it. I enjoyed the hell out of this! Also, I got obsessed with having blue hair for a little while...

So who wrote this?
Laini Taylor is an American author, living in Portland and sporting bright pink hair. She writes fantasy novels for young adults and has written 17 books, containing 2 series, and a bunch of short stories.

Tell me about the books!
Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Here we meet Karou, her best friend and her strange, strange family. We find out that she was raised by chimaera, particularly one called Brimstone, and that she goes out on dangerous missions to gather teeth for him. Obviously this book is the setup, introducing us to magic, angels, chimaera and Eretz, the mysterious world where they all come from. The story sets up the love interest Akiva, a seraphim who also has magical abilities and comes straight out of the dark-handsome-and-brooding department. The story has some cliches, such as the instant connection between Akiva and Karou and the fact that they are supposed to be arch nemesis-es, The story sounds like too many other books that I've read, but when I did actually read it, I found that it contains something more. Taylor does a great job creating the characters, especially the female ones, as none of them are typical YA heroines.  She creates distinct and funny voices for all of them and spins a story that is entertaining and interesting. I liked the first book more than enough to keep reading, but the ending did feel a bit jarring. It ended somewhat too sudden for my taste and I didn't like the big revelation that much.
Rating 3,5/5

Days of Blood & Starlight: That is, until we get to the second book. We pick up the story a bit into the future, leaving it a mystery what exactly happened with Karou and Akiva after finding out he killed Brimstone and the rest of her makeshift family. This book really focuses on the world-building, introducing us to many new characters and deepening all the existing ones. We also get a whole lot of back story that, for me, put the big revelation in perspective. Second books are often my favorite for this reason, because I love getting to know the people, and this is no exception. I was very scared that we wouldn't get any Zuzana and her awesome boyfriend Mik in this book, but luckily they quickly find their way to Karou and her monsters. From there on it's fun with chimaera and angels alike, as we meet warlord Thiago and his merry band of monsters, but also Liraz and Hazael, who are Akiva's siblings. We get a good idea of their relationships and personalities and the book does a great job setting up the final book. On it's own though, this book feels like the dark one of the series. Karou and Akiva have to find a way to get passed the whole 'murdering her family thing' and then near the end when Karou almost gets raped by a half-wolf... that's some dark shit. This second book is gritty and it definitely doesn't gloss over the bad things that happen when your life is a fantasy story. Luckily there is enough Mik & Zuzana fun to offset the drama and the best part is that Zuzana and Liraz get to meet. They are both stone-cold bad asses and I wish they would go on an adventure together.
Rating 4,5/5

Dreams of Gods and Monsters: Book 3 feels the most ambitious and the set up of the finale is pretty amazing. Taylor adds a new character, Eliza, who turns out to be a descendant from the seraphim and unfortunately functions as a deus ex machina. I loved the start of this book, enjoying how angels and chimaera were becoming friends and how Karou and Akiva were mending their ways. There were some minor annoyances, like the lovers constantly being dragged apart, but nothing I couldn't handle. Then a massive battle ensued and the stakes were raised. Liraz was about to lose the only man she might ever fall in love with and the good guys seemed to be losing.  It was very exciting until there was still about a fifth left in the book and the battle was won. All there was left was to deal with the Stelians and the book kind of doesn't deal with it at all. The ending was the biggest disappointment of the series. Writing endings is hard and I think Taylor does a decent job at wrapping up the story, but I was left wanting to know more. I also didn't like that Akiva turned out to be the central hero of the story, instead of Karou. It all felt a little too much like the chosen one, adding yet another destiny for someone who already had too many destinies to fulfill.
Rating 3/5

So, why should I read this series?
Daughter of Smoke & Bone really surprised me. I read quite some YA fantasy (always on the lookout for the new Harry Potter) and mostly I find the same thing. A young girl in need of a boy who will save her. Even though the girl seems to kick ass, she still desperately wants to be saved. This series has none of that. Karou needs Akiva, but he needs her just as much to save the world (except for that ending, but I'm ignoring that here). The characters really felt like actual people instead of shipping machines for teen romances. I like how Karou and Akiva's relationship never got to take center stage. They are star-crossed lovers clearly, but the faith of the world(s) is also in their hands and this is much more important than two people being in love. Besides this, Taylor does an amazing job writing the side characters. Mik, Zuzana, Liraz and Zhiri are all amazing and I was not once bored when the story veered away from our two protagonists. And can Laini please write that short story about the adventures of Zuzana and Liraz? I need to read that so bad. This whole series is just good fun, besides being exciting and inventive. I laughed and cheered for all of them and was sad to see them go.
Series rating: 4/5

Are there any special features/extras, because I need more?!
Yes! Laini Taylor wrote a short story called Night of Cake and Puppets about Mik and Zuzana, narrating the night they met and had their first date. Helped with a little bit of magic, Zuzana creates the perfect scavenger hunt, leading to herself as the prize.  It is too adorable. The story is so sweet it hurts. It's like eating an entire cake made out of cupcakes and even though it is making you feel nauseous, you can't stop because it is so delicious. I love Mik and Zuzana. They are such a no-nonsense couple, especially compared to Karou and Akiva. They don't have immense obstacles to overcome, besides the regular relationship troubles and that makes them relatable. But they are also so cute. Mik has a really weird fear of cats and Zuzana might act all cool on the outside, but on the inside she's so nervous about kissing someone for the first time. This story is a 100 pages full of cuteness, that will make any real first date pale in comparison.

Is there a box/gift set?
Of course there is. And it's so pretty! But it doesn't include the Mik/Zuzana story as this was published as an ebook and audiobook only.

How do I fill the Daughter of Smoke & Bone void?
In tone it reminded me of The Grisha Trilogy and also I will never stop recommending those books to anyone who loves fantasy YA. But assuming you've already read those, I'm going to recommend Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. I still have to read that one myself though, so expect another boring series recommendation soon.

[Beff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got the first book as a present and could not stop reading it. I bought the next two and thought it was good solid series. Lent them all to a friend who loved them too!

[Jodie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great series!! Up there with the Mortal Instruments

[kc delevigne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is undeniably, the only thing that can truly express how I am processing everything after finishing this trilogy:



and..... and......

how sad and depressed I will be after reading this series



the journey I went through, the journey the characters went through *sigh*



I actually have started this series a long time ago, stopping at Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I have no idea why I did not continue but all I could say is that I am so glad I went back to reading this series. It's just so good! More of my emotions towards this is explained here.

I am seriously a loss of words. The atmosphere, the worlds, the characters, the relationships, the story line of the series is truly just... inexplicably unique and AMAZZINGGG. And, oh my, I felt like I was part of the book which made it hard for me to part from the series. This trilogy has definitely become one of my favourites. I've never encountered so many surprises and plot twists in my-lifetime-of-reading especially in Days of Blood and Starlight, the second book of the series. The book had one full of unexpected unexpectations.. in just one book, GASP! However, I did hate how Akiva and Karou were frequently distant from each other. I kept feeling the need for those Papilio stomachus and wanted Karou to feel it too. But no, she barely saw Akiva on the second book. But then, I still enjoyed the feeling of them re-uniting towards the end *fangirling*

.. but then this also leads to my disappointment (that word hurts my heart so much, but I still love the book and the endless surprises) towards the ending of the last book.

I would really really really like to know what happened with the war regarding the nithilam and godstars, and the construction of new Loramendi or to be more clear, Eretz. Lowkey, I'm also mad that Karou and Akiva could not live out their "appointment" at the Kirin cave. Also, I would really like to know what happened at their, I guess you would call it their "honeymoon", at the Far Isles during dream season, AND especially Liraz and Ziri too! Tbh, I saw them coming from long time ago and woooo I ship them so hard!!

Like I want to know moree!! I really hate to admit it but it could have been a really really good book if not for the feeling of void-ness at the end... I don't feel as satisfied and have a lot more questions. I really do hope Laini Taylor will have a spin-off to this series. Pretty pretty please. But I will not give up on hope! As long as there is Karou lool.

Overall I would rate the whole series as 4.9999 just because I want more of what the author left us with on the last book.

Nonetheless, I recommend it to anyone and to everyone. It's still such a bravissimoo series despite of my "not-enough" feeling of the ending. I love the books! I love the characters! I love their bonds! I love everything!

Note: I've made individual reviews for each book but they are pretty short and pretty rash but still very very meaningful and genuine lool

[Erica Beardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved these books. The characters are incredibly unique, the storyline is twisty and different from anything that I've read in the recent past, and they pulled my emotions in many different ways. Laini Taylor knows how to write in an artful and a captivating way. The strings of teeth idea is legitimately the most creative thing I've read in a few years. When I was little, I had a game called mixed-up animals (my mother made it from a cereal box and pictures printed from the computer, and it was literally the best), and I always liked the idea of shapeshifting or being part animal. I always looked for books like this when I went to the library, but they don't really have this kind of thing in the kids section, so I stuck with Egyptian mythology (because all the gods have animal heads, so it's kind of similar). When I found this trilogy, it was like I had died and gone to heaven. I was so excited for the first book, that I thought I'd be disappointed with it because most of the books I've gotten too excited for recently have horribly disappointed me, but this trilogy went above and beyond my expectations. The writing was fantastic, the characters, like I said before, were incredibly unique and lovely (and sometimes awful), and the plot was just..breathtaking. It had me on the edge of my seat from the second book onward. I have a mountain of TBR books, but fighting the urge to reread this trilogy is almost too much to take. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars, but only because they don't have 20+ stars for me to click. Everyone, whether fantasy is your genre or not, needs to read this. It's just too good to pass.

[Jonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantasy story wrapped around in essence what is a love story, Daughter of smoke and bone is the first of a trilogy of books by Liani Taylor. Readers of Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman's dark materials novels will feel right at home here as we follow Karou and her divided life between her life in the real world with real world problems of a teenage girl and her life in Elsewhere as an errand runner for the formidable Brimstone.

Taylor has created a world which seems well-trodden and yet original as it has a foundation which is familar in books like Northern Lights, American Gods and, unfortunately elements of the Twilight books. Once again I have fears that it could be taken by some film company and re-branded to be another Twilight genre film. Hopefully this will not happen. Daughter of smoke and bone is well developed, written and will appeal to both young adult and older readers. It does have a light humored approach; certainly Taylor could have gone darker and developed the trilogy this way, although her vision at present is grounded and will be successful should the standard of the sequels prove to stay at this level.

The story is gripping, the settings are easily identifiable and yet the characters are certainly worthy of the comparisons as stated on the front cover of Pan's Labyrinth. I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to its sequels and the continuing story of Karou. This trilogy certainly has the foundations to be a great fantasy collection.

[B.E.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a great fantasy read and the Daughter of Smoke & Bone Trilogy didn't let me down.

They are a brilliant read. Simply beautiful, a new dark fantasy epic. I really enjoyed them. I love storyline and how it twists and turns leaving me suprised. At times I was literally on the edge of my seat having to stay up reading just to find out what happens next. I could barely put them down. The story was just, WOW!
The author has a wonderful and very creative imagination and a knack for writing.
I can't wait to start reading more of Laini Taylor's work!

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is impossible for me to pick my favourite series, yet if I was at gunpoint it is possible I would say this one. In my opinion, this is one of the most beautifully written pieces of all time. I could rant and rave for days about the writing alone, before I even got to telling you about how creative the storyline is and how wonderful the world building is and how enjoyable the storyline is… and, well everything.

Words cannot begin to explain the beauty of this series. The only way to understand is to pick it up, a choice you will not regret.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Maybe it is because I listened to it but I didn't love it as much as others do. The characters were engaging, the story interesting, but it just didn't grab me. Maybe I'm still trying to figure out what seraphim and chimera are and why they are at war. Was it explained and I missed it by listening instead of reading? I dunno.

[Jenny Jo Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very complex, intricate series full of unique worlds and creatures. Incredibly creative and diverse. Only wish there would have been a little more focus on the Karou and Akiva instead of everything else, but that's just me.

[caitriona]

I loved the plot and I really grew to the characters. It took some thought to understand the main idea of the story, but when I did it was ingeniously written. Bravo Laini Taylor!

[estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tenía esta trilogía en mi lista para leer hace unos 10 años, durante ese tiempo había logrado leer unos 3 capítulos del primer libro, pero no podía continuar. Esta vez me dije que tenía que darle una oportunidad real y no me arrepiento.

Es creo, la única saga que he leído que mejora mientras avanzas los libros. Al principio es como si la autora te lanzara en un día x en un mundo x que no logras comprender del todo, no sabes bien cómo funciona ni cómo son las reglas, pero a medida que avanzas, lo vas conociendo junto a la protagonista.

Al principio la forma de escritura me parecía un poco molesta, ya que cambia el pov a distintos personajes y está narrado de forma muy épica, pero una vez te acostumbras te das cuenta que le queda perfecto al tono del libro.

Creo que toca temas muy importantes y muy actuales, el genocidio, la guerra, la religión, los prejuicios, el creer que alguien es malo porque nos enseñaron que es así, lo poderoso que es darnos el espacio de realmente conocer a las personas. Lo fuerte que podemos volvernos si dejamos de considerarnos enemigos y nos convertimos en aliados. Y como de cierta forma todos somos soldados de alguien más poderoso que sale beneficiado, sin hacer nada, por nuestro trabajo y nuestra vida. Quizás no soldados de manera literal, pero si como en el sentido de trabajadores que creen no tener más opciones.

Y si bien no es para mi gusto lo más importante del libro, es lo que hace que todo sea posible, el amor. La posibilidad de amar a quien “no debería” y como creer en esa posibilidad, hace que un mundo de amor sea posible para todos.

Hermoso libro, agradezco haberme dado el tiempo de leerlo, me encantaría saber que pasa después, después del final, como sigue el mundo.

[Gabbey F-A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, Secret time, I’d never even heard of Laini Taylor before I picked up Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Yes, I must still have been hiding under the aforementioned rock). Having finished the trilogy in question today, I have an overwhelming desire to buy every book she has ever written. My bank account may have a lot to say about this but, it will happen eventually!

Quoted on the cover of the copy I own; “Northern Lights and Pan’s Labyrinth in one.” Well, having never read Northern Lights I cannot comment on that, but for sure can I feel those Pan’s Labyrinth vibes! (My favourite adaptation being the Spanish film by the same name, go and watch it now! There are subtitles for us mere mortals who only speak one language fluently!)

In Daughter of Smoke and Bone we meet our ‘main players,’ and boy are they all big characters. Even the ‘bit-part,’ characters in this trilogy are larger than life! Karou is our main female protagonist and she is everything I want to be! From her blue hair, to her wry humour and beyond, I loved her immediately. In many trilogies, the first and second books are the world-building for the third but each book contains a story of its own, all of which then tie together to make the series progressive.

Through Days of Blood and Starlight onto Dreams of Gods and Monsters, my heart broke – was mended – then was broken again. These books are not your average fairytale.

There is still a story to be told off the back of this trilogy. I want it and I want it now! Maybe one day, when Angels come to earth and Stormhunters can be tamed by humans, I’ll find out what happens next ;)