Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Hodder & Stoughton (2014), Hardcover, 528 pages
Description
From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.
User reviews
LibraryThing member MABoone
I can't believe what I just read. Dreams of Gods and Monsters is a glittering mix of physics, metaphysics, mythology, brilliant characters, deep emotion, and soaring, sweeping writing. That ending! It was all there, marching unseen beside me as I turned the pages, but when it uncloaked and stood
Is this the perfect ending to a most beloved trilogy? You bet. Read this. Savor it, hoard it, go slowly. By the time you come to the final third, you'll have to keep yourself from galloping through. I suspect the only thing I will enjoy more than reading it the first time will be reading it again to marvel at the craft of a consummate storyteller.
Brava.
Show More
revealed, I couldn't breathe. I've researched these same mythologies. I've put together much of these same thoughts about (sorry, spoilers) and so have many other writers. No one. No. One. Has done it like this. I am in awe. Is this the perfect ending to a most beloved trilogy? You bet. Read this. Savor it, hoard it, go slowly. By the time you come to the final third, you'll have to keep yourself from galloping through. I suspect the only thing I will enjoy more than reading it the first time will be reading it again to marvel at the craft of a consummate storyteller.
Brava.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mountie9
Excellent finale to a truly unique trilogy. It dragged a wee bit and there was a little too much angst, but you have to understand I am a 45 yr old Mom, I am sooo done with angst. The author has put incredible work into creating this world, you really have to admire her attention to detail. Karou
Show More
has developed into a strong independent women who fights for what she believes in and makes sacrifices to make the world into a better place. There are plenty of edge of your seat mmoments and most important there was lots of Zusana and Mik. Perfect for ages 15-18, especially those who fantasize about their soul mate. Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: The Chimera and the Seraphim have been locked in endless war for longer than any of them can remember. But now they're faced with a bigger problem - Jael has brought his angel army through a portal into the human world. In order to face this threat, Karou and Akiva must convince their
Review: I loved the first two books in this series - they were original, they were gorgeously written, they took a lot of disparate elements and crammed them together in a crazy way and made it work, and they were darker and more nuanced than most YA and more about war and morality and peace and what we must do in the name of those things than I was expecting, and they were awesome. This third book retains a lot of that - Taylor's writing is still beautiful, and the ideas are still original, and the characterizations are still extremely well done - but there were a few things about this book that bothered me, and made it not really live up to the two that have come before.
The first is that the villains - not the major bad guys, Jael and the fallen angel Razgut, but some new minor villains - are pretty seriously one sidedly nasty. (Seriously, at some points I would not have been surprised if Morgan had been twirling his mustache as he cackled and stroked a white cat.) This isn't a terminal flaw, but in a series where the first two books are all about shades of moral gray and how even basically good people sometimes have to do terrible things, and there's not really anyone that's purely bad - to have these shallow, one-dimensional bad guys show up was an unpleasantly jarring contrast.
My main problem with this book, however, is how many new elements it introduces, not only in the third book of the trilogy, but towards the end of the third book of the trilogy. And not little details, either, but entire major elements of worldbuilding and critical facts about characters that were barely if ever even hinted at in the first two books. Now, it had been almost a year and a half since I listened to Days of Blood and Starlight, so at first I was thinking I'd forgotten these things, which has been known to happen. But the more things went along, the more I realized that it wasn't my faulty memory to blame for the fact that seemingly random elements that kept cropping up. And while Laini Taylor is certainly able to make magic out of seemingly random elements (Daughter of Smoke and Bone started with a blue-haired art student who collected teeth for her demon foster family in some in-between-worlds workshop, after all), this was a case of too much too late, leaving the whole thing feeling a little haphazard and unsatisfying.
(The exception to the "don't introduce totally new and important elements without warning in your third book" is Eliza. Yes, it would have been better for the plotting of the overall trilogy if she'd been introduced earlier. But she's also totally awesome whenever she is around, so I didn't mind her being introduced so late in the game. And also: three cheers for biology grad students in fiction, especially believable ones who get their science right, no less!)
This problem of plotting was especially apparent in the ending. The first 80% of the book felt like it was moving steadily, if a little hurriedly, towards the resolution. But then as we get closer to the end of the book, more and more of these new elements start coming into play, so that the resolution we've been waiting for three whole books turns out not to really be a resolution at all, but the start of a bigger fight… but then we don't get to see that fight, but are just told how it's going to turn out. Not satisfying, to say the least.
I think what saved this book for me were the characters. Not Mik and Zusanna (who I do have to admit I found a LOT less annoying this time around). Not even Akiva and Karou so much, although they had some nice moments. But Eliza, Ziri, and Liraz stole the show. Eliza I've already mentioned; Ziri's story was by far the most compelling to me this time around. Stuck in a body he hates, forced to pretend to be someone he's not, and watching how that changes him, and how he fights not to let it change him, was fascinating and heart-rending and just plain compelling. Liraz's character growth too was compelling, and her and her canteen almost broke my heart into a bunch of tiny pieces. Kristine Hvam's narration was likely a big part of this; her voices are good, and she's able to pack a lot of genuine emotion into each of her characters.
So, overall, despite this one not feeling as solid as the first two in the series, I have enough goodwill for Taylor's world and her characters and her writing to carry me over the issues I had with some of her plotting decisions, and I did enjoy this one… I just wish the ending had been stronger. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Reading just the third book won't make a lick of sense, but the series as a whole should appeal to anyone who likes original, slightly dark, and morally complex fantasy.
Show More
opposing sides to work together, if they want to have a chance at realizing the dream that Akiva and Madrigal first envisioned more than a lifetime ago. But first they have to convince their people to put aside their deeply ingrained distrust and hatred - difficult to do with so many bodies, and so much bloodshed on each side. And even if they can accomplish that task, their dream may still falter, for there's a greater danger looming that threatens not only the Chimera and the Seraphim, but their entire world… and all worlds. And tied into this, somehow, is Eliza Jones, a biology grad student with a troubled past that links her inexorably to the struggle between gods and monsters.Review: I loved the first two books in this series - they were original, they were gorgeously written, they took a lot of disparate elements and crammed them together in a crazy way and made it work, and they were darker and more nuanced than most YA and more about war and morality and peace and what we must do in the name of those things than I was expecting, and they were awesome. This third book retains a lot of that - Taylor's writing is still beautiful, and the ideas are still original, and the characterizations are still extremely well done - but there were a few things about this book that bothered me, and made it not really live up to the two that have come before.
The first is that the villains - not the major bad guys, Jael and the fallen angel Razgut, but some new minor villains - are pretty seriously one sidedly nasty. (Seriously, at some points I would not have been surprised if Morgan had been twirling his mustache as he cackled and stroked a white cat.) This isn't a terminal flaw, but in a series where the first two books are all about shades of moral gray and how even basically good people sometimes have to do terrible things, and there's not really anyone that's purely bad - to have these shallow, one-dimensional bad guys show up was an unpleasantly jarring contrast.
My main problem with this book, however, is how many new elements it introduces, not only in the third book of the trilogy, but towards the end of the third book of the trilogy. And not little details, either, but entire major elements of worldbuilding and critical facts about characters that were barely if ever even hinted at in the first two books. Now, it had been almost a year and a half since I listened to Days of Blood and Starlight, so at first I was thinking I'd forgotten these things, which has been known to happen. But the more things went along, the more I realized that it wasn't my faulty memory to blame for the fact that seemingly random elements that kept cropping up. And while Laini Taylor is certainly able to make magic out of seemingly random elements (Daughter of Smoke and Bone started with a blue-haired art student who collected teeth for her demon foster family in some in-between-worlds workshop, after all), this was a case of too much too late, leaving the whole thing feeling a little haphazard and unsatisfying.
(The exception to the "don't introduce totally new and important elements without warning in your third book" is Eliza. Yes, it would have been better for the plotting of the overall trilogy if she'd been introduced earlier. But she's also totally awesome whenever she is around, so I didn't mind her being introduced so late in the game. And also: three cheers for biology grad students in fiction, especially believable ones who get their science right, no less!)
This problem of plotting was especially apparent in the ending. The first 80% of the book felt like it was moving steadily, if a little hurriedly, towards the resolution. But then as we get closer to the end of the book, more and more of these new elements start coming into play, so that the resolution we've been waiting for three whole books turns out not to really be a resolution at all, but the start of a bigger fight… but then we don't get to see that fight, but are just told how it's going to turn out. Not satisfying, to say the least.
I think what saved this book for me were the characters. Not Mik and Zusanna (who I do have to admit I found a LOT less annoying this time around). Not even Akiva and Karou so much, although they had some nice moments. But Eliza, Ziri, and Liraz stole the show. Eliza I've already mentioned; Ziri's story was by far the most compelling to me this time around. Stuck in a body he hates, forced to pretend to be someone he's not, and watching how that changes him, and how he fights not to let it change him, was fascinating and heart-rending and just plain compelling. Liraz's character growth too was compelling, and her and her canteen almost broke my heart into a bunch of tiny pieces. Kristine Hvam's narration was likely a big part of this; her voices are good, and she's able to pack a lot of genuine emotion into each of her characters.
So, overall, despite this one not feeling as solid as the first two in the series, I have enough goodwill for Taylor's world and her characters and her writing to carry me over the issues I had with some of her plotting decisions, and I did enjoy this one… I just wish the ending had been stronger. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Reading just the third book won't make a lick of sense, but the series as a whole should appeal to anyone who likes original, slightly dark, and morally complex fantasy.
Show Less
LibraryThing member CurrerBell
I thought the ending came off flat. In fact, maybe the entire last quarter of the book came off flat, with an epilogue that's an obvious set-up for a sequel trilogy. And while I like Eliza Jones a great deal, I have a sense that her inclusion as a new character was an afterthought to create the
Show More
plot elements that will lead into a sequel trilogy. Show Less
LibraryThing member WickedWoWestwood
"It was not a happy ending, but a happy middle..." Yup, that pretty much sums up this book, which, thank GOD was so much better than book 2! As I had mentioned, book 2 was all setup, so this book was all action, answers, and the setup for possibly a whole other series (*sigh*). It really is a great
Show More
trilogy and I thoroughly enjoyed how she ended it! *applause* Show Less
LibraryThing member Punkfarie
This book is the 3rd and final book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. This review will contain spoilers.
Sigh.
The end of a beautiful series.
Here’s the thing, it’s been so long since I read the last book that I forgot a lot of things and struggling to remember small things took me out of
Karou has tricked the chimaera rebellion by replacing Thiago, in the hopes that there can be a new future. A future of peace between the chimaera and the seraphim.
A future with Akiva.
And this future must begin with an agreement of teamwork between the chimaera and the seraphim to bring down Jael. And that goes about as well as you can expect. There is a large amount of tension between the chimaera and the seraphim as they cram together in the caves of Karou’s old tribe.
Influenced by Razgut, Jael has taken his Dominion soldiers to Earth, in the hope to gain weapons to fight the Stelians. While Jael is trying to gain benefactors; Karou and the others are plotting ways to stop him (while still trying to keep up that act that the White Wolf is not really the White Wolf).
To make matters worse, the Stelian Queen wants to kill Akiva (what?!) and the chimaera bodies that Karou left behind at the Kasbah have been discovered by humans in Morocco.
Not to mention there is the introduction of a new character, Eliza, who may or may not be a prophet descended from an angel. And a new plotline that has to do with giant monsters that could destroy the seraphim and the chimaera, which are eating away at the veil between worlds.
Honestly, there was too much going on in this book. I felt like the plot of Karou and Akiva starting a new beginning was lost.
I didn’t care for Eliza (or her arch nemesis Morgan who was a giant sexist douche) and her POV annoyed me for the most part. She didn’t really bring anything to the story. I also felt like her character was left largely unfinished.
Liraz however, was wonderful and I wish we could have gotten more of her! The turmoil she went through in this book, grieving over her brother, and regret over the things she had done to chimaera. Ziri, as well was a great character that I would have rather had more of.
There is only one real action scene in this book, and the confrontation you might expect between Jael and everyone else never happens (it goes by the way of Breaking Dawn. A talk. A bit more of a violent and threatening talk but still a talk.)
The tension between Karou and Akiva was beautiful as always however they don’t get the ending they were hoping for. It’s a bittersweet ending that gives us hope rather than a resolution.
Really, there is so much going on in this book that I felt like I have no real idea what it was about. It was about everything.
That said, I still love this series and while this final book is not as rage inducing as other final books *cough*RequiemandAllegiant*cough* I think it missed its mark a bit.
Sigh.
The end of a beautiful series.
Here’s the thing, it’s been so long since I read the last book that I forgot a lot of things and struggling to remember small things took me out of
Show More
the book a bit. So NOT the fault of the author (my own fault. I should have reread) Karou has tricked the chimaera rebellion by replacing Thiago, in the hopes that there can be a new future. A future of peace between the chimaera and the seraphim.
A future with Akiva.
And this future must begin with an agreement of teamwork between the chimaera and the seraphim to bring down Jael. And that goes about as well as you can expect. There is a large amount of tension between the chimaera and the seraphim as they cram together in the caves of Karou’s old tribe.
Influenced by Razgut, Jael has taken his Dominion soldiers to Earth, in the hope to gain weapons to fight the Stelians. While Jael is trying to gain benefactors; Karou and the others are plotting ways to stop him (while still trying to keep up that act that the White Wolf is not really the White Wolf).
To make matters worse, the Stelian Queen wants to kill Akiva (what?!) and the chimaera bodies that Karou left behind at the Kasbah have been discovered by humans in Morocco.
Not to mention there is the introduction of a new character, Eliza, who may or may not be a prophet descended from an angel. And a new plotline that has to do with giant monsters that could destroy the seraphim and the chimaera, which are eating away at the veil between worlds.
Honestly, there was too much going on in this book. I felt like the plot of Karou and Akiva starting a new beginning was lost.
I didn’t care for Eliza (or her arch nemesis Morgan who was a giant sexist douche) and her POV annoyed me for the most part. She didn’t really bring anything to the story. I also felt like her character was left largely unfinished.
Liraz however, was wonderful and I wish we could have gotten more of her! The turmoil she went through in this book, grieving over her brother, and regret over the things she had done to chimaera. Ziri, as well was a great character that I would have rather had more of.
There is only one real action scene in this book, and the confrontation you might expect between Jael and everyone else never happens (it goes by the way of Breaking Dawn. A talk. A bit more of a violent and threatening talk but still a talk.)
The tension between Karou and Akiva was beautiful as always however they don’t get the ending they were hoping for. It’s a bittersweet ending that gives us hope rather than a resolution.
Really, there is so much going on in this book that I felt like I have no real idea what it was about. It was about everything.
That said, I still love this series and while this final book is not as rage inducing as other final books *cough*RequiemandAllegiant*cough* I think it missed its mark a bit.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stefferoo
It’s over! And make no mistake, whatever I may say here about Dreams of Gods & Monsters, it was a good book, and the trilogy as a whole is series I would heartily recommend. But in terms of expectations, I think I may have placed all my eggs in one basket. I went into this with hopes for the
So the war is on in this book, with Jael at the head of the angel army. On the run, Akiva and his seraph sister Liraz have fled to the other side to join Karou, who has taken control of the chimaera rebellion through an impressive feat of deception and pretense. It’s a shockingly suspenseful scenario, considering how at any moment the ruse could be discovered, destroying any chance of a peaceful resolution. Still, at last we see Akiva and Karou fighting on the same side for the same cause against a common enemy.
But as much as it pains me to say, the romance itself isn’t doing much for me anymore. How far Karou and Akiva’s love story has fallen in my eyes, when I look back to my review of the first book and see how weak-in-the-knees I was for their tale of forbidden love. And now? I feel nothing. If I can hazard a guess, I think the second book pushed the melodrama a bit too far. Watching the characters dance around each other going through the motions (and emotions) when you know they’re going to end up back together anyway? Well, that just sort of takes the fun out of it. So Karou and Akiva reconcile in this book, like we’d all known was going to happen. Did they want a prize?
Up until the last few chapters though, and minus my gripes about the romance, this book was actually quite fantastic. There are multiple plot threads going on, each punctuated by their moments of action and suspense, but also moments of tenderness and humor as well. When Jael’s army of angels first descended to earth, it made for a few incredible chapters where the population’s panic and disbelief practically emanated off the page.
We have a new POV character named Eliza, whom I initially thought was introduced for the sole purpose of showing us humanity’s reaction during that significant event. As it turned out, she had a bigger role to play as well. I still think Eliza joined us way too late and her part in the overall big picture felt a little forced, given this already cramped storyline. However, I do love her character! I really can’t say much more about her for fear of revealing any spoilers, but she brought a great personality to the story. And that’s saying a lot, considering we already have Zuzana! It goes without saying, Zuze was simply delightful. As always.
Now for the actual ending. I wish I had better things to say about it but the truth is, I thought it carried on for much longer than it should have. Talk about an ending that overstayed its welcome. When all is said and done, your foes are vanquished, your friends reunited, all you want to do is bask in the glory of victory and soak up the feel good vibes. I really could have done without a final bombshell. Especially since it felt like it came out of nowhere. Granted, that stuff usually works like a charm in action movies, and hey, it might work for you. But for me it was mentally exhausting. I would just prefer not to feel like that at the end of a book, and especially not at a series ender.
Don’t get me wrong, though. None of this changes the fact that I think the Daughter of Smoke trilogy is one of the strongest YA series I’ve ever read. Like I said, I highly recommend these books. And if you’ve enjoyed the first two, there’s absolutely no reason not to pick this one up too. Despite minor hiccups here and there, it really is a concluding novel well worth your time.
Show More
ending of all endings, which is unfair of me perhaps, but I desperately wanted back the magic I first experienced in Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Needless to say, the first book still reigns supreme as my favorite of the trilogy, but that being said, the third book’s no slouch either. It just didn’t leave me as satisfied as I wanted to be, but I was expecting a lot.So the war is on in this book, with Jael at the head of the angel army. On the run, Akiva and his seraph sister Liraz have fled to the other side to join Karou, who has taken control of the chimaera rebellion through an impressive feat of deception and pretense. It’s a shockingly suspenseful scenario, considering how at any moment the ruse could be discovered, destroying any chance of a peaceful resolution. Still, at last we see Akiva and Karou fighting on the same side for the same cause against a common enemy.
But as much as it pains me to say, the romance itself isn’t doing much for me anymore. How far Karou and Akiva’s love story has fallen in my eyes, when I look back to my review of the first book and see how weak-in-the-knees I was for their tale of forbidden love. And now? I feel nothing. If I can hazard a guess, I think the second book pushed the melodrama a bit too far. Watching the characters dance around each other going through the motions (and emotions) when you know they’re going to end up back together anyway? Well, that just sort of takes the fun out of it. So Karou and Akiva reconcile in this book, like we’d all known was going to happen. Did they want a prize?
Up until the last few chapters though, and minus my gripes about the romance, this book was actually quite fantastic. There are multiple plot threads going on, each punctuated by their moments of action and suspense, but also moments of tenderness and humor as well. When Jael’s army of angels first descended to earth, it made for a few incredible chapters where the population’s panic and disbelief practically emanated off the page.
We have a new POV character named Eliza, whom I initially thought was introduced for the sole purpose of showing us humanity’s reaction during that significant event. As it turned out, she had a bigger role to play as well. I still think Eliza joined us way too late and her part in the overall big picture felt a little forced, given this already cramped storyline. However, I do love her character! I really can’t say much more about her for fear of revealing any spoilers, but she brought a great personality to the story. And that’s saying a lot, considering we already have Zuzana! It goes without saying, Zuze was simply delightful. As always.
Now for the actual ending. I wish I had better things to say about it but the truth is, I thought it carried on for much longer than it should have. Talk about an ending that overstayed its welcome. When all is said and done, your foes are vanquished, your friends reunited, all you want to do is bask in the glory of victory and soak up the feel good vibes. I really could have done without a final bombshell. Especially since it felt like it came out of nowhere. Granted, that stuff usually works like a charm in action movies, and hey, it might work for you. But for me it was mentally exhausting. I would just prefer not to feel like that at the end of a book, and especially not at a series ender.
Don’t get me wrong, though. None of this changes the fact that I think the Daughter of Smoke trilogy is one of the strongest YA series I’ve ever read. Like I said, I highly recommend these books. And if you’ve enjoyed the first two, there’s absolutely no reason not to pick this one up too. Despite minor hiccups here and there, it really is a concluding novel well worth your time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Akiva, a seraph, and Karou, a chimaera, were not supposed to fall in love. On opposite sides of a terrible war, they now attempt to unite against a common foe: Jael, Akiva's uncle, who has gone to earth - and may very well annihilate it, too - to seek out weapons in his fight against the "beasts,"
I actually had a hard time getting into the book at first, as I wasn't quite sure I was remembering who each character was and was reading a couple of other books at the same time finding myself divided. However, in the past few days I've devoured more than half the book and found it an absolutely satisfying end to the series. Ends I didn't even know were loose were explained and I was so very pleased with the created world and magic and legends and characters and... everything. At just over 600 pages and the third of three long books, it is a series that demands some time and attention, but I found it entirely worthwhile. I would recommend it both to fans of teen fantasy and paranormal romances as a well-crafted story with a truly unique premise and phenomenal worldbuilding.
Show More
or chimaera. Akiva and Karou concoct a daring plan to ally the chimaera under the "White Wolf," actually a friend of Karou's in disguise, and the Misbegotten, Akiva's warrior half-brothers and sisters. Their small band has little in numbers, but they dare to hope in the face of terrible actions that may destroy their entire world.I actually had a hard time getting into the book at first, as I wasn't quite sure I was remembering who each character was and was reading a couple of other books at the same time finding myself divided. However, in the past few days I've devoured more than half the book and found it an absolutely satisfying end to the series. Ends I didn't even know were loose were explained and I was so very pleased with the created world and magic and legends and characters and... everything. At just over 600 pages and the third of three long books, it is a series that demands some time and attention, but I found it entirely worthwhile. I would recommend it both to fans of teen fantasy and paranormal romances as a well-crafted story with a truly unique premise and phenomenal worldbuilding.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Kellyangel77
What a book the end a series, all 600 pages of it. It has been a while since I read the other books and I didn't realise how much I loved the series until I started this one. Taylor's writing is vivid and vibrant and she uses the most wonderful language, it is one of the best quality pieces of
When Jael's (brother of Joram) Seraph army invades Earth to amass weapons, Akiva and Karou must unite their own kinds to fight against a common enemy. This is a twisted version of their long ago dream of their people living together in peace. However Jael is not the only enemy Akiva and Karou are fighting, a mysterious queen is hunting Akiva, massive stains are spreading across the sky like bruises and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world. From the streets of Rome to the caves of Kirin and beyond, Chimera and Seraph will fight, strive, love and die in an epic battle to end the war.
This novel immersed you so far in the plot it was like you were in the book. However, there were so many story lines that it sometimes became a little confusing. The part I loved the most was probably Liraz's involvement. I think she developed so much as a character and Taylor made her very easy to understand. There was a new view point in the series from Eliza Jones. Like some other readers I found her view point to be useful, providing us with a connection to humans, but rather abrupt, both in her arrival and her involvement in the story. However I loved the feud with her enemy Morgan Toth, this allowed a little humor into a very dark and serious story. There were only two points I was disappointed in and one was the romance, especially between Akiva and Karou. It more more like " oh he's here, our eyes meet across the room' and then 'oh now he's gone again I don't want him to leave', this kind of kept going right throughout the book, so don't expect too much from that angle. Lastly, the ending. I thought the very end was spot on and very cute, however the conclusion overall was a bit ho hum and wishey washy. Taylor could of ended it in so many different ways, I would have liked a bit more of a connection to the past as that was where it all began. However it definitely wasn't a horrible ending.
Overall a fantastic read apart from a few points, definitely worth investing your time in it.
Show More
writing I have read. The plot didn't quite follow the writing but it wasn't far behind. When Jael's (brother of Joram) Seraph army invades Earth to amass weapons, Akiva and Karou must unite their own kinds to fight against a common enemy. This is a twisted version of their long ago dream of their people living together in peace. However Jael is not the only enemy Akiva and Karou are fighting, a mysterious queen is hunting Akiva, massive stains are spreading across the sky like bruises and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world. From the streets of Rome to the caves of Kirin and beyond, Chimera and Seraph will fight, strive, love and die in an epic battle to end the war.
This novel immersed you so far in the plot it was like you were in the book. However, there were so many story lines that it sometimes became a little confusing. The part I loved the most was probably Liraz's involvement. I think she developed so much as a character and Taylor made her very easy to understand. There was a new view point in the series from Eliza Jones. Like some other readers I found her view point to be useful, providing us with a connection to humans, but rather abrupt, both in her arrival and her involvement in the story. However I loved the feud with her enemy Morgan Toth, this allowed a little humor into a very dark and serious story. There were only two points I was disappointed in and one was the romance, especially between Akiva and Karou. It more more like " oh he's here, our eyes meet across the room' and then 'oh now he's gone again I don't want him to leave', this kind of kept going right throughout the book, so don't expect too much from that angle. Lastly, the ending. I thought the very end was spot on and very cute, however the conclusion overall was a bit ho hum and wishey washy. Taylor could of ended it in so many different ways, I would have liked a bit more of a connection to the past as that was where it all began. However it definitely wasn't a horrible ending.
Overall a fantastic read apart from a few points, definitely worth investing your time in it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member norabelle414
A genetics doctoral student in Washington DC (with a mysterious past) has screaming nightmares about angels coming to get her. Shortly thereafter real, honest-to-god angels descend from the heavens to Vatican City. The angels inform the people of earth that horrible, ugly beasts are coming for
This finale is just as satisfying as the previous two books in the series. Vivid, imaginative storytelling, without too many holes in the plot or world-building. Realistic, emotional characters, and surprising plot twists. Delicious. However, for the final book of a trilogy, there were a lot of unanswered questions. It's definitely hopeful, but left open. There is plenty of closure, but not a final ending. Hint hint.
Show More
them, and the only solution is to provide the angels with human weapons. Meanwhile, Akiva and Karou have the twin impossible tasks of keeping human weapons out of the hands of Jael and his elite warriors, and also preventing their two species from killing each other.This finale is just as satisfying as the previous two books in the series. Vivid, imaginative storytelling, without too many holes in the plot or world-building. Realistic, emotional characters, and surprising plot twists. Delicious. However, for the final book of a trilogy, there were a lot of unanswered questions. It's definitely hopeful, but left open. There is plenty of closure, but not a final ending. Hint hint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLoopyLibrarian
This being the finale to a series, it pains me to not have enjoyed it more. The first two in the series I liked a great deal, but this one just seemed to drag on and on. It was over 600 pages and most of that was ideology and politics disguised as endless battle preparations and laborious
Quotes:
“The world had been stirred by a hot poker, and sparks of crazy were flying” (p. 104).
“How could you tell if your instincts were just hope in disguise, and if your hope was really desperation parading as possibility” (p. 160)?
“People with destinies shouldn’t make plans” (p.237).
“I earned this dirt. Respect. The dirt” (p. 397).
Show More
conversations or inner conflicts. The author made it clear that not all monsters were monsters and not all angels were angels and peace is always preferable to war. However, she belabored the point, and the storytelling suffered for it. Also, for all her efforts to point out the errors in judging people by stereotypes, I didn’t miss the dig she made at Christians (the judgmental, mindless way that we all are of course). The action and the romance that drew me to the series in the first place were intermittent afterthoughts set between long periods where nothing happened. Many new characters were suddenly introduced as well and not fully fleshed out which led to confusion. I stuck with it mainly because I wanted to see how it ended. As endings go, it wasn’t bad, but it left many threads dangling and another war on the horizon.Quotes:
“The world had been stirred by a hot poker, and sparks of crazy were flying” (p. 104).
“How could you tell if your instincts were just hope in disguise, and if your hope was really desperation parading as possibility” (p. 160)?
“People with destinies shouldn’t make plans” (p.237).
“I earned this dirt. Respect. The dirt” (p. 397).
Show Less
LibraryThing member sschaller
What can I say, I love this trilogy and the last book was no disappointment!! Just so sorry to see the fun of Karou and Akiva end. Would of liked to understand and delve deeper into the Magi and possibly learn more about Festival, Akiva's mother. Perhaps another book ?!
LibraryThing member dalzan
Amzon summary: When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their
Show More
people. And, perhaps, for themselves. But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ...something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world. What power can bruise the sky? From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theatre that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. Show Less
LibraryThing member lps3
A satisifying if abrupt finish to an amazing story. Laini Taylor's prose and imagination moved me to tears, while her humor added joy. Beautiful
LibraryThing member klarsenmd
Just like many other fans of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, I have been anxiously awaiting this third and final book in the series. Perhaps unlike many of those fans, I was almost scared to read it. I have been let down by many series conclusions in the past, so it was with a mixed sense
In a daring plan to combine the bastard army with the chimaera rebels Karou and Akiva must come up with a way to stop the Angel army from getting weapons from the human world. A deeper understanding of Akiva’s past slowly begins to unravel and a new alliance is made. Even Razgut’s tale gets some light shed on it.
I am in constant awe of Taylor’s particular writing style. If I were and author, this is what I would want to put out to the world. This beautiful mix of humor, realistic dialogue, goofy analogies, and emotions so strong, they leave you feeling like you are part of the story. She seems to effortlessly portray beautiful landscapes and unforgettable characters. The imagery is breathtaking. In simple passages I found myself giggling about lessons in eyebrow arching and wanting to soak in the healing pools of the Kirin caves. While Karou and Akiva are certainly the center of these tales, it is the other characters that make them come to life. Zuzana and Mik feel like family. Ziri and Issa are wondrous. Liraz and Virko fierce. Even Razgut and Jael in all of their hideousness are unforgettable and so integral to the telling, that it melds together wonderfully.
I have to wonder if when she started the first book in the series if the author had any idea how it would all come together like this in the end. This last book added so much more depth to a simple tale of love it is hard to believe otherwise. As I found myself nearing the final pages, I was happy with how it concluded. There was a sense that the author wanted it to be right. Not just a happy ending that is condescending and unrealistic and not a quick slash and burn, but a well thought out conclusion that left me satisfied and happy that I had stumbled across the first book several years ago. This final tale made the wait worth it and I would not only strongly recommend this book, but will surely read it again myself.
Show More
of anticipation and worry that I started this. I need not have feared. As with all of her other writing, Laini Taylor wove a beautiful and touching tale, full of war, love, sorrow and redemption in this far reaching conclusion.In a daring plan to combine the bastard army with the chimaera rebels Karou and Akiva must come up with a way to stop the Angel army from getting weapons from the human world. A deeper understanding of Akiva’s past slowly begins to unravel and a new alliance is made. Even Razgut’s tale gets some light shed on it.
I am in constant awe of Taylor’s particular writing style. If I were and author, this is what I would want to put out to the world. This beautiful mix of humor, realistic dialogue, goofy analogies, and emotions so strong, they leave you feeling like you are part of the story. She seems to effortlessly portray beautiful landscapes and unforgettable characters. The imagery is breathtaking. In simple passages I found myself giggling about lessons in eyebrow arching and wanting to soak in the healing pools of the Kirin caves. While Karou and Akiva are certainly the center of these tales, it is the other characters that make them come to life. Zuzana and Mik feel like family. Ziri and Issa are wondrous. Liraz and Virko fierce. Even Razgut and Jael in all of their hideousness are unforgettable and so integral to the telling, that it melds together wonderfully.
I have to wonder if when she started the first book in the series if the author had any idea how it would all come together like this in the end. This last book added so much more depth to a simple tale of love it is hard to believe otherwise. As I found myself nearing the final pages, I was happy with how it concluded. There was a sense that the author wanted it to be right. Not just a happy ending that is condescending and unrealistic and not a quick slash and burn, but a well thought out conclusion that left me satisfied and happy that I had stumbled across the first book several years ago. This final tale made the wait worth it and I would not only strongly recommend this book, but will surely read it again myself.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DebbieMcCauley
Final in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. Through a cunning deception, Karou has managed to steer the chimaera rebellion away from vengeance and Akiva has rallied the Misbegotten Seraphim, but can they stop them from killing each other and unite them into one army with the same purpose - to
Well written, great plot and character development - this series is highly recommended and this book is a fantastic conclusion to it.
Show More
stop Jael obtaining weapons of mass destruction from the human world. Meanwhile, Akiva is being hunted and huge areas of bruising appear in the skies above Eretz as a massive threat batters against it.Well written, great plot and character development - this series is highly recommended and this book is a fantastic conclusion to it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jennorthcoast
This is the concluding novel in her “Daughter of Smoke and Bones” trilogy, and Taylor does not disappoint: it is as good as the other two books. What a ride! And to say that Taylor is the queen of metaphors is like saying … a really cool metaphor that only she can possibly think of. But there
Show More
are some caveats: it is an overly long book (600+ pages), and perhaps the series could have been made into a quattro of books instead of a trilogy. Incredibly, the ending seems rushed, with several story points or character resolutions obliquely referred to or hastily concluded when I wanted to actually read the scenes. There is almost too much going on, and Taylor seems unable to quite finish it all satisfactorily. But is the story really finished? The ending was not the absolute “happy ever after” resolution I was expecting, and I wonder whether more books may be forthcoming? Hmmm I kind of hope they are … but only time will tell. Show Less
LibraryThing member schatzi
It pains me to only give this book two stars, because I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. Daughter of Smoke and Bone was one of those books that I stayed up until 2am to finish, flipping through the pages as fast as I could because I simply couldn't get enough of this story, and
And I didn't like the third book.
I started the book shortly after it was released in April 2014. I'm a voracious reader; I read over a hundred books (usually closer to one hundred and fifty) a year, and I usually read like the wind. Friends tease me over how quickly I can devour a book if I find it interesting.
I didn't finish reading this book until the end of August 2014. It took me nearly five months to read this book. That is...out of character for me, shall we say. And for the most part, I had to force myself to barrel through another chapter so I could finally, someday. finish this book. (I started getting more interested in the book when it was nearly over, but then it felt like a roller coaster of rush, rush, and more rush, and it didn't leave me particular satisfied).
I believe, for the most part, that the author just had too much story in her for this series. I know that the trend in young adult fiction, at least at this point, is publishing trilogies, but that can do a great disservice to those who don't have enough story for three books and have to water down things to make it stretch. I think that trend does an even greater disservice, however, when the author has too much material for three books, which requires a great deal of slicing and dicing and leaves the reader with an inferior book, which is what happened in this case, in my opinion.
Even weighing in at over six hundred pages, this book felt rushed and crowded to me. There is simply too much happening in this book. It needed to be split into two books and allow for more character development and interaction. As it stands, I felt like the characters I came to know and love in the first two books of the series had to take a backseat to the action and the plots upon plots upon subplots. And I was left feeling like I didn't get to "see" my favorite characters much at all. Bummer.
I didn't care all that much for the character of Eliza for at least the first half of the book, and a lot of time was devoted to her. She became more interesting later in the book, after it was revealed that she was a descendant of a fallen angel, while at the same time, an angel herself...sort of? , but it took a good long while to get to that point.
Look, one of my pet peeves in YA dystopian or fantasy series is that the main character and his/her love interest take a front seat while the whole world falls apart around them. And this is so not the case in this series; Karou and Akiva, and their relationship, take a backseat to the goings on around them. And that is fine. But I would at least like to see them talk to one another more, instead of ignoring one another as much as they can for a good portion of the book and spending much of the book separated. Call me shallow; I don't care. I was invested in their relationship, and I felt like I didn't get much of a payout in the end. I'm okay with the ending (except for the following rant), but I felt like there should have been more buildup to get there.
And then comes the rant.What in the HECK was up with the devouring beasts threatening to destroy everything that was just throw in at the end? So I read a trilogy thinking that it was about one thing (the battle between the Dominion and the Chimera), and it turns out, at the very end, oops, that's not what it's about at all! It's about something that was really never mentioned until Razgut started talking about it towards the end. And the battle between the angels and the Chimera is just a footnote to the REAL story, which won't even be explored in these pages. And all of the battles and killing were just a weak sidenote because the REAL battles are about to happen off-page! WHAT? WHAT IS THIS CRAP? It kind of left me feeling pissed off, to be frank about it. I hate it when authors pull this.
In the end, to be honest, I was left quite disappointed with the book, and the series, in general. I don't read a ton of fantasy, at least high fantasy, and this is precisely why. Just too much too fast, at least for me. More power to those who enjoyed this book; I wish that I could have enjoyed it more. Or, at all. Sigh.
Show More
literally gasping out loud at the ending. Yes, it was that good. And although I didn't enjoy the second book in the series as much as the first, I still liked it a great deal and waited with an incredible amount of anticipation for the third book to be released.And I didn't like the third book.
I started the book shortly after it was released in April 2014. I'm a voracious reader; I read over a hundred books (usually closer to one hundred and fifty) a year, and I usually read like the wind. Friends tease me over how quickly I can devour a book if I find it interesting.
I didn't finish reading this book until the end of August 2014. It took me nearly five months to read this book. That is...out of character for me, shall we say. And for the most part, I had to force myself to barrel through another chapter so I could finally, someday. finish this book. (I started getting more interested in the book when it was nearly over, but then it felt like a roller coaster of rush, rush, and more rush, and it didn't leave me particular satisfied).
I believe, for the most part, that the author just had too much story in her for this series. I know that the trend in young adult fiction, at least at this point, is publishing trilogies, but that can do a great disservice to those who don't have enough story for three books and have to water down things to make it stretch. I think that trend does an even greater disservice, however, when the author has too much material for three books, which requires a great deal of slicing and dicing and leaves the reader with an inferior book, which is what happened in this case, in my opinion.
Even weighing in at over six hundred pages, this book felt rushed and crowded to me. There is simply too much happening in this book. It needed to be split into two books and allow for more character development and interaction. As it stands, I felt like the characters I came to know and love in the first two books of the series had to take a backseat to the action and the plots upon plots upon subplots. And I was left feeling like I didn't get to "see" my favorite characters much at all. Bummer.
I didn't care all that much for the character of Eliza for at least the first half of the book, and a lot of time was devoted to her. She became more interesting later in the book
Look, one of my pet peeves in YA dystopian or fantasy series is that the main character and his/her love interest take a front seat while the whole world falls apart around them. And this is so not the case in this series; Karou and Akiva, and their relationship, take a backseat to the goings on around them. And that is fine. But I would at least like to see them talk to one another more, instead of ignoring one another as much as they can for a good portion of the book and spending much of the book separated. Call me shallow; I don't care. I was invested in their relationship, and I felt like I didn't get much of a payout in the end. I'm okay with the ending (except for the following rant), but I felt like there should have been more buildup to get there.
And then comes the rant.
In the end, to be honest, I was left quite disappointed with the book, and the series, in general. I don't read a ton of fantasy, at least high fantasy, and this is precisely why. Just too much too fast, at least for me. More power to those who enjoyed this book; I wish that I could have enjoyed it more. Or, at all. Sigh.
Show Less
LibraryThing member slothybooks
I don't get it- how is this trilogy finished and what was the point of the whole 'by the way, there's a huge war about to happen now guys' if that is the last one in the series? Baffled.
Also, far too much 'flushing'. But apart from that, liked it and nice (except for extra war bit) ending.
Also, far too much 'flushing'. But apart from that, liked it and nice (except for extra war bit) ending.
LibraryThing member BethYacoub
If I could I would give this book another 5 stars, it is that good! I fell completely head over heals in love with this series and ultimately with Mrs. Taylor so writing this review might seem like Fangirl ramblings but here we go. First thing that stands out is the writing (duh)! It is SO
Show More
beautiful that I did something I would NEVER usually do, I highlighted and I highlighted and highlighted until half the book was yellow. I can't say enough about how stunning the world building is, how amazingly in depth and loveable the characters are (I even loved the "bad guys") and I would be in fangirl heaven if the ending was just a tad more satisfying. Mostly everything is wrapped up nicely but the end for Karou and Akiva left me sad and confused. It had the cliffhanger vibe even though I am pretty sure this was the last of the series. I am not one for rereading but this was such a work of undeniable beauty that I can't imagine not revisiting it and doing so quite a few times (as soon as I feel the need to take a little break from my enormous TBR list). This book is yet another reason that I want to sing songs of praise for Mrs. Taylor from the highest rooftops! She could write a cookbook and not only would I throw my money at her gladly but it would most likely be a pure, poetic work of genius!! Show Less
LibraryThing member BethYacoub
If I could I would give this book another 5 stars, it is that good! I fell completely head over heals in love with this series and ultimately with Mrs. Taylor so writing this review might seem like Fangirl ramblings but here we go. First thing that stands out is the writing (duh)! It is SO
Show More
beautiful that I did something I would NEVER usually do, I highlighted and I highlighted and highlighted until half the book was yellow. I can't say enough about how stunning the world building is, how amazingly in depth and loveable the characters are (I even loved the "bad guys") and I would be in fangirl heaven if the ending was just a tad more satisfying. Mostly everything is wrapped up nicely but the end for Karou and Akiva left me sad and confused. It had the cliffhanger vibe even though I am pretty sure this was the last of the series. I am not one for rereading but this was such a work of undeniable beauty that I can't imagine not revisiting it and doing so quite a few times (as soon as I feel the need to take a little break from my enormous TBR list). This book is yet another reason that I want to sing songs of praise for Mrs. Taylor from the highest rooftops! She could write a cookbook and not only would I throw my money at her gladly but it would most likely be a pure, poetic work of genius!! Show Less
LibraryThing member thereadingrebel
SPOILERS FROM BOOKS 1 and 2
Dreams of Gods and Monsters picks up with a new character a human named Eliza who gives us a human point of view of Jael's coming to earth.Then you switch right back to where book 2 left off and it tells you how the armies made an alliance and set up camp in the kirin
Karou is my favorite kind of heroine strong,smart,unique,devoted and willing to anything for the people she loves but vulnerable at time.Karou's struggle to help her people but still being in love with Akiva the man who destroyed most of her people and killed her adopted father Brimstone is heartbreaking.I love how Laini was able to merge the characters of Karou and Madrigal together yet without losing on character to the other.
I love Akiva.*swoon*How he is willing to do anything for the girl he loves.I love how the author didn't make Akiva a "bad boy"and more a wounded tortured hero.I have a great respect for Akiva as he is willing to take responsibility for his mistakes and wants to atone for them.
No Love Triangle here and I am happy for it.I love a good love triangle but not in every book I read.It seems like to many authors just use them because they are the in thing sense Twilight.Every time Karou and Akiva are in the same scene it sizzles with passion and longing.I love them as a couple.
Liraz's character makes the most growth in this book and watching her grow is one of my favorite parts of the book.I connected with her character in a way I never thought I would.With Hazael gone Liraz doesn't have him to hide behind and that is a good thing.Eliza the human scientist with a mysterious past is just a very sympathetic character plus she becomes someone so important to the story and I was surprised how much of the story was told form her Point of View.
I grew to love Ziri more then ever with his choice to pretend to be the White Wolf to save his people.Noble sweet kind Ziri pretending to be the cold cruel wolf.What a horrible thing for a good soul to have to act like a evil one.Mik and Zuzana are back and as adorable and loveable as ever.I love learning more about the Stelians and how important they are.I have been chomping at the bit to meet the people who sent someone a fruit basket telling them they don't have time for war maybe later.I love the ending and felt it was perfect for the series.Like all last books in series to me the ending is bittersweet.I will miss Karou,Akiva,and all the other characters but Laini gave the characters the ending they needed.Reading Laini's writing is like reading beautiful poetry and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
star rating:*****
Genre:Young Adult Fantasy
Will I reread:YES.
Dreams of Gods and Monsters picks up with a new character a human named Eliza who gives us a human point of view of Jael's coming to earth.Then you switch right back to where book 2 left off and it tells you how the armies made an alliance and set up camp in the kirin
Show More
caves.What follows is a multiple world wind adventure quest to save both Earth and Eretz for Jael and his army.Karou is my favorite kind of heroine strong,smart,unique,devoted and willing to anything for the people she loves but vulnerable at time.Karou's struggle to help her people but still being in love with Akiva the man who destroyed most of her people and killed her adopted father Brimstone is heartbreaking.I love how Laini was able to merge the characters of Karou and Madrigal together yet without losing on character to the other.
I love Akiva.*swoon*How he is willing to do anything for the girl he loves.I love how the author didn't make Akiva a "bad boy"and more a wounded tortured hero.I have a great respect for Akiva as he is willing to take responsibility for his mistakes and wants to atone for them.
No Love Triangle here and I am happy for it.I love a good love triangle but not in every book I read.It seems like to many authors just use them because they are the in thing sense Twilight.Every time Karou and Akiva are in the same scene it sizzles with passion and longing.I love them as a couple.
Liraz's character makes the most growth in this book and watching her grow is one of my favorite parts of the book.I connected with her character in a way I never thought I would.With Hazael gone Liraz doesn't have him to hide behind and that is a good thing.Eliza the human scientist with a mysterious past is just a very sympathetic character plus she becomes someone so important to the story and I was surprised how much of the story was told form her Point of View.
I grew to love Ziri more then ever with his choice to pretend to be the White Wolf to save his people.Noble sweet kind Ziri pretending to be the cold cruel wolf.What a horrible thing for a good soul to have to act like a evil one.Mik and Zuzana are back and as adorable and loveable as ever.I love learning more about the Stelians and how important they are.I have been chomping at the bit to meet the people who sent someone a fruit basket telling them they don't have time for war maybe later.I love the ending and felt it was perfect for the series.Like all last books in series to me the ending is bittersweet.I will miss Karou,Akiva,and all the other characters but Laini gave the characters the ending they needed.Reading Laini's writing is like reading beautiful poetry and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
star rating:*****
Genre:Young Adult Fantasy
Will I reread:YES.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dom76
Great YA series. Beautiful book. Sad that it's over but enjoyed it so much.
LibraryThing member bubblyair
Exceeded my expectations, only downside was too much focus on the attractiveness of physical features, but other than that it was a fun time!
LibraryThing member theindigoshelf
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone series is one that I hold dear to my heart for the sole purpose of BRIMSTONE. (view spoiler) I think that this is one of the major reasons I can’t completely love this series. I have read some of Taylor’s other works and I find similar issues with ideas that take
The other reason I can’t completely love this book is because it was so boring. Not only did it not include parts of the second book I didn’t feel were completely necessary (Akiva’s people) to go into depth upon (but only every few chapters, which drove me crazy). I was getting fed up with the dragging on of things I cared nothing about, that I almost gave up. I frankly didn’t care where everyone ended up- I would come back to it when I was 80 years old and didn’t care all that much. But I am glad that I stuck with it and witnessed a beautiful ending that was so fantastical! Karou, Zuzana, and Mik were some of the best characters I’ve ever read about!
Show More
a different direction than I would have liked. This series seemed to be based on that theory. Although, the ending was totally perfect in every way. Seriously.The other reason I can’t completely love this book is because it was so boring. Not only did it not include parts of the second book I didn’t feel were completely necessary (Akiva’s people) to go into depth upon (but only every few chapters, which drove me crazy). I was getting fed up with the dragging on of things I cared nothing about, that I almost gave up. I frankly didn’t care where everyone ended up- I would come back to it when I was 80 years old and didn’t care all that much. But I am glad that I stuck with it and witnessed a beautiful ending that was so fantastical! Karou, Zuzana, and Mik were some of the best characters I’ve ever read about!
Show Less
Awards
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award (Winner — 2014)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Teen — 2014)
Language
Original publication date
2014-04-08
ISBN
1444722727 / 9781444722727
Local notes
By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz. Common enemy, common cause. When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love. But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing.