Parallel by Lauren Miller
Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
She had been innocent once, a little girl playing with feathers on the floor of a devil’s lair. She wasn’t innocent now, but she didn’t know what to do about it. This was her life: magic and shame and secrets and teeth and a deep, nagging hollow at the center of herself where something was most certainly missing.
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.
Wow, what a commanding start to a novel. That opening sentence hooked me in, it set the bar high and boy does Laini Taylor deliver! Daughter of Smoke and Bone tears down the common formula for paranormal romance and sets a new standard. Based in Prague you meet Karou the azure haired girl an aloof art student by day and mysterious errand girl for the chimaera named Brimstone by night. While she is human, Karou was raised by Brimstone and some of his colleagues in his workshop hidden “elsewhere” accessible only through portals disguised as doorways. Brimstone tells her nothing, everything is a secret and Karou is raised a lonely girl who feels separate from humanity and with no clue as to how she ended up under Brimstone’s care. All this changes when by complete chance she encounters Akiva on one of her mysterious errands and her world starts to come apart.
The world building in this book is phenomenal. I’ve never been to Prague but I desperately want to go after reading countless descriptions of city scenery this being one such example:
The streets of Prague were a fantasia scarcely touched by the twenty-first century—or the twentieth or nineteenth, for that matter. It was a city of alchemists and dreamers, its medieval cobbles once trod by golems, mystics, invading armies. Tall houses glowed goldenrod and carmine and eggshell blue, embellished with Rococo plasterwork and capped in roofs of uniform red. Baroque cupolas were the soft green of antique copper, and Gothic steeples stood ready to impale fallen angels. The wind carried the memory of magic, revolution, violins, and the cobbled lanes meandered like creeks. Thugs wore Motzart wigs and pushed chamber music on street corners, and marionettes hung in windows, making the whole city seem like a theater with unseen puppeteers crouched behind velvet.
Along with the beautiful descriptions of Earth, Taylor introduces Eretz a world filled with Angels and Demons and torn viciously apart by war. You can visualise this alien land so well through the story and even though the book is laden with descriptions and explanations it at no point takes away from character development.
I loved the character of Karou. She was smart, clever, witty with just a hint of sorrow. You got a real sense of her inner strength even though she is fairly reserved – definitely not a flashy heroine! I was a bit worried by Akiva initally - I thought he was going to be a little too heartless and cold to me. There is nothing I like less than a girl who fawns herself over a complete asshole. Thankfully he wasn’t like this at all and as the story progresses you really appreciate how he is actually flexible and willing to grow.
The relationship that develops between Akiva and Karou could have so easily crossed the line into creepy and unrealistic but instead its authentic and innocent. You find yourself wanting it to work out for them against all the odds. Taylor shifts this story between both their perspectives and it really helps strengthen the realism in their growing love for one another. It’s hard to go into their relationship without giving too much of the story away but you do believe that these two are destined to be together and to do great things for the fate of 2 races and 2 worlds.
I also loved the fact that there is no clear cut good and evil in this book and that war isn’t anything to be glamorized instead its something that literally consumes both sides and everyone loses out:
Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?
While this sounds like a standard Young Adult romance it truly isn’t. The story changes about half way through when Karou learns the answers to just a few of Brimstone’s secrets and it almost feels like you are reading a different novel. This is not a story of happily ever afters even if it started with a fairytale beginning. This is a story that sends you on a whirlwind of all sorts of emotions, from grief, love, shock, betrayal and tragedy. It leaves you out of breath at the end and in complete awe. I was unable to contemplate starting another book for a good week, it took me that long to digest it.
I find myself recommending this book to everyone I know. While the story resolves itself and leaves the reader feeling complete, the ending is still a cliffhanger and I can’t wait for 2nd novel – Days of Blood and Starlight to be released in late 2012. I read this book in January 2012 and I won’t be surprised if in December this year I still list this as one of the best books I read in 2012. This book deserved its 5/5 stars and then some.
Rating 
| Author | Laini Taylor |
|---|---|
| Book series | Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Book #1 |
| Genre | Fantasy / Young Adult |
| Publisher | Little Brown & Company |
| Published | September 2011 |
| Source | Purchased for Kindle |
| More |
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor at Goodreads Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor at Amazon Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor at The Book Depository |
35 Comments:
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rica says:
i want to read this book..heard a lot of good reviews about it:)
Philippa says:
It’s fantastic! Thanks for the comments and if you get a chance to read it I definitely would
Tanya Patrice says:
I recently finished listening to the audiobook version and it blew me away! I loved it – totally agree that now I want to go to Prague. And I love the point the author was making about how people are considered “monsters” because they don’t conform to someone’s standard of beauty.
Philippa says:
Definitely – there were so many good underlying concepts in this book, I think thats what makes it such a good read. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
daniela says:
I really want to read this one. I’ve heard so many great things about it. Can’t wait to get it!
Philippa says:
Its such a fantastic book, I would definitely add it to your to-read list. Thanks so much for reading and commenting
mabel says:
I read this book a couple of days ago and it was amazing. I absolutely loved it. Can’t wait for the sequel though!
Philippa says:
Me either – can’t wait to get my hands on it
Catherine Siborutorop says:
I’ve read this book in early of 2012, and without hesitate, it is my all-time favorite ! This book is breathtakingly beautiful and I just love it soo much! What a way to start the new year
Great review by the way!
Philippa says:
Cheers! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting
Jess haight says:
I have been wanting to read this book for ages. Ever since I read about it in the newspaper. I loved your review- and the fact that you mention that the author does a great job of world building has me intrigued. Thanks for sharing!
Philippa says:
It’s definitely worth picking up – as you can see just from the commenters here everyone loves it!
Dea S. says:
I loved this book! I can’t wait for the sequel. I’m glad you enjoyed it too. Fab review Philippa!
Philippa says:
Thank you! It was a great read I really hope the sequel can live up to it!
RedheadClone says:
I read this book earlier this year and absolutely loved it!! Definitely my favourite read so far of 2012!
Philippa says:
Completely agree! It’s been a couple of months and I still tell everyone I see to go buy it lol
JessS says:
Great review! I didn’t really know much about this book but it sounds really good, escpecially since you said it wasn’t just another typical YA Paranormal book. And I love books that make you want to travel somewhere *cough* Fever series and Dublin! *cough*.
Philippa says:
Thank you! I seriously have considered buying multiple copies and leaving them on my friends doorsteps in a bid to get them to read it – it really is a fantastic book! Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting
Month In Review | Tea, Daydreams & Fairytales says:
[...] Daughter of Smoke & Bone [...]
Gorgeous Cover for Days of Blood and Starlight | Tea, Daydreams & Fairytales says:
[...] here for my review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Leave a [...]
Armchair BEA: Introduction Kick Off | Tea, Daydreams & Fairytales says:
[...] My favourite book this year has been without a doubt, Daughter of Smoke & Bone – I seriously can’t sing it enough praises and have pushed it onto everyone who I think would even vaguely pick up a book to read it! My review for Daugher of Smoke & Bone can be found here. [...]
Emma B. says:
I loved the world building in Smoke and Bone. It was so original and vivid. It was my favorite part of the book. I didn’t like the second half of the book as much, though I’m not a romance person. I do want to read the sequel, though. Thanks for your review.
Philippa says:
No worries, I can’t wait for the sequel – hope it is as good as this one!
Randi M says:
I’ve had this lovely book on my shelf for several months now, and still haven’t gotten around to reading it! I don’t know what’s keeping me from it, but the description of Prague that you point out really makes me want to pick it up. Like, now. Unfortunately I still have 4 library books to finish… O.o I will definitely be reading it before the end of the summer, though! Thank you for the excellent review.
Philippa says:
Definitely put it up there after you finish those library books, I promise you wont be dissapointed!
Kris S says:
I love this book too for the same reasons. The world is brilliantly crafted, and Karou is a strong character. I can’t wait for book two!
Philippa says:
I’m desperate to get hold of it! Hoping there are ARCs of it and I manage to score one only so I can read it sooner
Rebecca says:
I’ve only heard fabulous praise for this book and nothing less. Can’t wait to get myself a copy to prepate for Days of Blood and Starlight. So glad you loved it. This sounds like a book that will live up to the hype and more
Philippa says:
It definitely does live up to the hype – hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Jennifer says:
Amazing review! I felt the exact same about this book. It’s unique and different than usual paranormal fantasy. Totally different. The story building really is incredible and I love her writing in this. The words flow together beautifully and make this book stand out! And that cliffhanger is killing me!! Ah!!
Philippa says:
I know I wish the sequel would hurry up and come out
Caroline says:
Wow, I can’t wait to pick up this book! Thanks for the review!
Stephanie says:
Another great review! I like that you have reviewed several books that I have been interested in, but have yet to read. I am moving this one up on my TBR list right away!!!
Krista says:
This is on my wishlist. I read the sample from Amazon, and it could either be really weird or really awesome. I love that it’s set in Prague. How very unique!
Philippa says:
I have to admit I tried it literally days after it came out and put it down within the first chapter not really getting into it. I then didn’t pick it up again for about 4 months and couldn’t work out how on earth I hadn’t devoured it the first time. It is really really really good and the best book i’ve read to date this year!