Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Hodder & Stoughton (2011), Hardcover, 448 pages
Description
Seventeen-year-old Karou, a lovely, enigmatic art student in a Prague boarding school, carries a sketchbook of hideous, frightening monsters--the chimaerae who form the only family she has ever known.
User reviews
LibraryThing member lycomayflower
Teen paranormal romance with a dash of urban fantasy, this. Generally not really my thing, though I do understand the appeal. Taylor creates a really fascinating paranormal world, an interesting main character, and a decent romance. While I never cared really deeply for the characters, I was
My biggest problem with the story puts me solidly into cranky old lady territory. I am so tired of paranormal romance heroes who are beautiful beyond all imagination and of "destined" romances. Daughter is much, much better about making the relationship complex and real than some other paranormal teen fare (Twilight, I am looking at you). But there's still this tendency to over-romanticize, to make the relationship the only important thing. I know, I know. It's a story, it's a fantasy. And nothing annoys me more than the suggestion that a teenager's (or anyone's) entertainment diet ought consist of nothing but spinachy substantive tales bound to the workings of the real world and better preparing one to face it. Sometimes you just need a custard-filled doughnut-story swathed in chocolate icing with sprinkles on top. But even so, there's something off-putting about this wrapping up of impossible ideals in a supernatural package: Okay, we know there's no such thing as perfect beauty, but, see, the character is an angel, so it's okay. See, we know that a girl shouldn't let her relationship become the only thing that has any meaning for her, but their love is destined, so it's okay. We know that love is more interesting and lasting if it's a choice rather than fate, but their destined romance will bring peace to the world, so it's okay. We know that we can live without the ones we love dearly, but they actually can't because of Supernatural Stuff, so it's okay.
This kind of use of the supernatural as excuse to keep telling all the old "romantic" untruths appears to be a new trope, and I think that's too bad. I don't read enough of this genre to know whether there are books out there that get inside this trope and turn it on its ear. (I hope so. Maybe Taylor's going to do that as she continues on with this series--the characters are flawed enough, the heroine smart enough, the set-up complex enough that I think she certainly could.) There could still be a happy ending. There could still be overwhelming joyful squishy ecstatic love. They could still bring peace to the world. But how much more interesting it would be if, instead of just being irresistibly drawn to one another, they really loved each other, saw each other for what they are, shit and all, and still chose to be together. How much more compelling if they were complete alone and a truly kickass team together. What if the supernatural elements, instead of making it "okay" to slot back into the old stereotypes, opened up whole new worlds and ways of understanding love?
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completely invested in finding out what was going to happen. My biggest problem with the story puts me solidly into cranky old lady territory. I am so tired of paranormal romance heroes who are beautiful beyond all imagination and of "destined" romances. Daughter is much, much better about making the relationship complex and real than some other paranormal teen fare (Twilight, I am looking at you). But there's still this tendency to over-romanticize, to make the relationship the only important thing. I know, I know. It's a story, it's a fantasy. And nothing annoys me more than the suggestion that a teenager's (or anyone's) entertainment diet ought consist of nothing but spinachy substantive tales bound to the workings of the real world and better preparing one to face it. Sometimes you just need a custard-filled doughnut-story swathed in chocolate icing with sprinkles on top. But even so, there's something off-putting about this wrapping up of impossible ideals in a supernatural package: Okay, we know there's no such thing as perfect beauty, but, see, the character is an angel, so it's okay. See, we know that a girl shouldn't let her relationship become the only thing that has any meaning for her, but their love is destined, so it's okay. We know that love is more interesting and lasting if it's a choice rather than fate, but their destined romance will bring peace to the world, so it's okay. We know that we can live without the ones we love dearly, but they actually can't because of Supernatural Stuff, so it's okay.
This kind of use of the supernatural as excuse to keep telling all the old "romantic" untruths appears to be a new trope, and I think that's too bad. I don't read enough of this genre to know whether there are books out there that get inside this trope and turn it on its ear. (I hope so. Maybe Taylor's going to do that as she continues on with this series--the characters are flawed enough, the heroine smart enough, the set-up complex enough that I think she certainly could.) There could still be a happy ending. There could still be overwhelming joyful squishy ecstatic love. They could still bring peace to the world. But how much more interesting it would be if, instead of just being irresistibly drawn to one another, they really loved each other, saw each other for what they are, shit and all, and still chose to be together. How much more compelling if they were complete alone and a truly kickass team together. What if the supernatural elements, instead of making it "okay" to slot back into the old stereotypes, opened up whole new worlds and ways of understanding love?
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LibraryThing member snat
Sometimes I think that I should start a young adult shelf in my house just in case I decide I want kids. Then I'll have all of this kick ass young adult literature waiting for them, like gleaming gems plucked out of the murky waters of young adult literature. The Hunger Games will be there, as will
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a unique fantasy with a quirky, blue haired main character named Karou. Karou is an art student living in Prague where she is surrounded by musicians, artists, and actors--all delightfully Bohemian types who live to create and entertain. However, Karou's friends are often frustrated by her mysterious disappearances and her evasiveness about her family and past. We soon discover that Karou has a reason for her caginess about truth--she was raised by monsters. Chimera, to be more exact, who inhabit a portal between our world and another. Karou was raised by Brimstone, the part man, part lion, part crocodile, and part ram "wishmonger" who trades wishes for teeth. What he does with the teeth and why he's willing to pay such a high price remains a mystery as not even Karou is trusted with this secret. As black handprints appear on the doorways Karou uses to travel the world in search of Brimstone's precious teeth and sightings of angelic beings with wings of fire are reported, Karou begins to unravel the secrets of her origins and her role in the battle for another world.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is elegantly written, far from formulaic, and embraces the outcasts among us. It's obvious that Laini Taylor took her time with crafting this story and draws upon a variety of cultural sources (as well as her own imagination) to create a world unlike any other. Karou is a kick ass heroine, able to take care of herself in volatile situations, but there's still a recognizable and flawed human beneath the tough veneer. The story of the war between the chimera and the angels is also compelling and I'm anxious for the second book as I hope the focus shifts more to this alternate reality.
The first half of the book drew me in and maintains a brusque pace. However, after the arrival of the angel Akiva, the narrative slows down somewhat as we have the inevitable "love at first sight" plot device that no young adult novel with a female protagonist can do without. And now, a quick rant: seriously, why can't we hold off on the romantic entanglements until the second or third book of a series? Why can't we develop a female character who doesn't have an immediate choice to make between two male characters who are foils to one another? Why must we always be presented with the amazingly talented, self-reliant, strong woman who turns out to be a quivering damsel in distress underneath all the aforementioned bad-assedness? Or, better yet, why can't she meet the potential love interest in the first novel and get to know him before giving her heart to him in the sequel? Young adult writers of the world, hear me! Give us a woman who proves she doesn't need a man by taking the time to convince us she's powerful, strong, and independent by letting her carry a novel all by her little ol' lonesome before we bring in the inevitable love interest.
So, anyhoo, I freely admit to much eye-rolling and muttering of "you've got to be shitting me" during this part of the book. Of course Akiva is unbelievably beautiful (although thank the heavens that he doesn't sparkle) and spiritually broken because of a past love-gone-wrong. But he begins to hope again when he meets Karou. I was ready to mark the book down to a 2 1/2 star based upon that alone. However, I will say this--at least Taylor later provides a reason for the love at first sight scenario that allowed me to give her a pass (although I still think a little less time could have been spent rhapsodizing about Akiva's beauty).
All in all, with the exception of the blossoming romance bit, I really loved this book. It has it all: gorgeous description, exotic locations, believable characters, humor, and some of the best world-building I've seen in a young adult fantasy.
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the Chaos Walking series, The Dust of 100 Dogs, and now I think I'll toss Daughter of Smoke and Bone onto that imaginary shelf as well. (This shelf is likely to remain imaginary as I'll probably spawn only illiterates or, worse yet, Valley Girl types who, like, soooo totally want to know where the Twilight books are.)Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a unique fantasy with a quirky, blue haired main character named Karou. Karou is an art student living in Prague where she is surrounded by musicians, artists, and actors--all delightfully Bohemian types who live to create and entertain. However, Karou's friends are often frustrated by her mysterious disappearances and her evasiveness about her family and past. We soon discover that Karou has a reason for her caginess about truth--she was raised by monsters. Chimera, to be more exact, who inhabit a portal between our world and another. Karou was raised by Brimstone, the part man, part lion, part crocodile, and part ram "wishmonger" who trades wishes for teeth. What he does with the teeth and why he's willing to pay such a high price remains a mystery as not even Karou is trusted with this secret. As black handprints appear on the doorways Karou uses to travel the world in search of Brimstone's precious teeth and sightings of angelic beings with wings of fire are reported, Karou begins to unravel the secrets of her origins and her role in the battle for another world.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is elegantly written, far from formulaic, and embraces the outcasts among us. It's obvious that Laini Taylor took her time with crafting this story and draws upon a variety of cultural sources (as well as her own imagination) to create a world unlike any other. Karou is a kick ass heroine, able to take care of herself in volatile situations, but there's still a recognizable and flawed human beneath the tough veneer. The story of the war between the chimera and the angels is also compelling and I'm anxious for the second book as I hope the focus shifts more to this alternate reality.
The first half of the book drew me in and maintains a brusque pace. However, after the arrival of the angel Akiva, the narrative slows down somewhat as we have the inevitable "love at first sight" plot device that no young adult novel with a female protagonist can do without. And now, a quick rant: seriously, why can't we hold off on the romantic entanglements until the second or third book of a series? Why can't we develop a female character who doesn't have an immediate choice to make between two male characters who are foils to one another? Why must we always be presented with the amazingly talented, self-reliant, strong woman who turns out to be a quivering damsel in distress underneath all the aforementioned bad-assedness? Or, better yet, why can't she meet the potential love interest in the first novel and get to know him before giving her heart to him in the sequel? Young adult writers of the world, hear me! Give us a woman who proves she doesn't need a man by taking the time to convince us she's powerful, strong, and independent by letting her carry a novel all by her little ol' lonesome before we bring in the inevitable love interest.
So, anyhoo, I freely admit to much eye-rolling and muttering of "you've got to be shitting me" during this part of the book. Of course Akiva is unbelievably beautiful (although thank the heavens that he doesn't sparkle) and spiritually broken because of a past love-gone-wrong. But he begins to hope again when he meets Karou. I was ready to mark the book down to a 2 1/2 star based upon that alone. However, I will say this--at least Taylor later provides a reason for the love at first sight scenario that allowed me to give her a pass (although I still think a little less time could have been spent rhapsodizing about Akiva's beauty).
All in all, with the exception of the blossoming romance bit, I really loved this book. It has it all: gorgeous description, exotic locations, believable characters, humor, and some of the best world-building I've seen in a young adult fantasy.
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LibraryThing member lovestampmom
My teen daughter recommended this book to me, knowing that I do not read every single popular YA book, especially ones that are being portrayed as "just like The Hunger Games" or "If you like Twilight, you would like this..." I find most YA fantasies lack originality and am sick of love triangles
This book is a breath of fresh air among all the other fantasy and paranormal YAs. Yes, there's an angel and a demon, but the story idea is fresh, original and creative. The conversations and writings are thought-provoking and worth pondering long after reading.
The story begins when we encounter Karou, an art student in the midst of breaking up with her worthless boyfriend. We soon realize that she leads a double life, collecting all kinds of teeth for her adoptive Father, Brimstone, in his magical shop in the middle of nowhere. We also realize that Karou speaks many different languages, is trained in martial arts and weapons. The door of Brimstone shop could lead her to anywhere in the world, and that's how she travels for her trade. A bit later, we also learn that teeth are for granting wishes. However, Brimstone made it a point not to tell Karou anything about his trade and what he uses the teeth for.
"Well, what do you use them for?"
"Nothing, I do not wish."
"Never? But you could have anything you wanted--"
"Not anything. There are things bigger than any wish."
"Like what?"
"Most things that matter."
Karou has no idea who she is and always has a feeling that she's not whole. She looks 100% human, while Brimstone and his other helpers have animal parts and they are the only family she has...then, entered Akiva. Akiva is an angel,physically perfect and attractive, who came to destroy all the portals to Brimstone's shop, since Angels and Demons have always been at war...Akiva notices familiarity in Karou and Karou is immediately attracted to him. But why?? This book is about love and hope...and did I mention the story takes place in Prague?
"I hope, child, but I don't wish. There's a difference. Because hope comes from in you, and wishes are just magic. Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes it's own magic."
A 5-star book.
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among vampires, wolves, witches and humans... The plain looking book cover did not help convincing me, either. I can't help wondering, after reading the book, how the blue on the cover should have been Karou's hair, not her mask. However, daughter said this book is comparable to Delirium, with equally poignant and lyrical writing. She knows I'm a sucker for those beautiful narratives and couldn't resist. I couldn't.This book is a breath of fresh air among all the other fantasy and paranormal YAs. Yes, there's an angel and a demon, but the story idea is fresh, original and creative. The conversations and writings are thought-provoking and worth pondering long after reading.
The story begins when we encounter Karou, an art student in the midst of breaking up with her worthless boyfriend. We soon realize that she leads a double life, collecting all kinds of teeth for her adoptive Father, Brimstone, in his magical shop in the middle of nowhere. We also realize that Karou speaks many different languages, is trained in martial arts and weapons. The door of Brimstone shop could lead her to anywhere in the world, and that's how she travels for her trade. A bit later, we also learn that teeth are for granting wishes. However, Brimstone made it a point not to tell Karou anything about his trade and what he uses the teeth for.
"Well, what do you use them for?"
"Nothing, I do not wish."
"Never? But you could have anything you wanted--"
"Not anything. There are things bigger than any wish."
"Like what?"
"Most things that matter."
Karou has no idea who she is and always has a feeling that she's not whole. She looks 100% human, while Brimstone and his other helpers have animal parts and they are the only family she has...then, entered Akiva. Akiva is an angel,physically perfect and attractive, who came to destroy all the portals to Brimstone's shop, since Angels and Demons have always been at war...Akiva notices familiarity in Karou and Karou is immediately attracted to him. But why?? This book is about love and hope...and did I mention the story takes place in Prague?
"I hope, child, but I don't wish. There's a difference. Because hope comes from in you, and wishes are just magic. Wishes are false. Hope is true. Hope makes it's own magic."
A 5-star book.
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LibraryThing member thenightbookmobile
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of the most talked about new YA releases of the year. It is getting rave reviews across the board. For me, personally, this was a hard book to rate. The things that I loved in this book I really LOVED and the things I disliked... well, they irritated me to no end!
The Good: I was absolutely fascinated by chimera. I've never read a book about them before. In a YA market over-saturated with vampires, the story of chimera was refreshing, and fun to read about. I was pulled in from the very beginning by the strange teeth collecting creatures, and their art student/orphan assistant, Karou. Karou had lots of personality and I liked her from the start. I loved her independence and willingness to fight. I have to say that toward the end I found Madrigal to be an even more interesting character, and would have loved to read more about her. The world building in this novel was also fantastic. I can see why so many have fallen in love with this book, because the world Taylor has built truly is that great, and worth the read.
The Bad: I've never been interested in angels, except for Castiel (Supernatural), and even that may have something to do with Misha Collins' face. I never really took to Akiva and could have done without all the inner musings of the characters thinking about how beautiful and attractive the other is. While there may have been reasoning for the "instant love" in this case, that doesn't mean it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I thought the prose in the book was great, but in the romance parts? I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. The writing was too sugary sweet. It was too much. Perhaps I am just sick of the Romeo and Juliet type romance, and have little tolerance for it now, but it did feel a little cliche, and detracted from what was an otherwise very original story. Plus Karou seemed more interested in Akiva than she was in finding out who she was. Normally an amazing ending can cause me to overlook things like this, but since this is the first in the series, not much was resolved at the end.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! The story is worth it, and if you're less annoyed by star-crossed lovers than I am, you'll probably love it.
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At different sections of this book I found myself jumping back and forth on my rating. Anywhere from 2-5 stars. I decided to settle somewhere in the middle with a 3.5. This review will be somewhat disjointed. Not only because my feelings for this book are so all over the place, but also because of the secrecy involved in the plot, that I don't want to spoil for anyone.The Good: I was absolutely fascinated by chimera. I've never read a book about them before. In a YA market over-saturated with vampires, the story of chimera was refreshing, and fun to read about. I was pulled in from the very beginning by the strange teeth collecting creatures, and their art student/orphan assistant, Karou. Karou had lots of personality and I liked her from the start. I loved her independence and willingness to fight. I have to say that toward the end I found Madrigal to be an even more interesting character, and would have loved to read more about her. The world building in this novel was also fantastic. I can see why so many have fallen in love with this book, because the world Taylor has built truly is that great, and worth the read.
The Bad: I've never been interested in angels, except for Castiel (Supernatural), and even that may have something to do with Misha Collins' face. I never really took to Akiva and could have done without all the inner musings of the characters thinking about how beautiful and attractive the other is. While there may have been reasoning for the "instant love" in this case, that doesn't mean it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I thought the prose in the book was great, but in the romance parts? I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. The writing was too sugary sweet. It was too much. Perhaps I am just sick of the Romeo and Juliet type romance, and have little tolerance for it now, but it did feel a little cliche, and detracted from what was an otherwise very original story. Plus Karou seemed more interested in Akiva than she was in finding out who she was. Normally an amazing ending can cause me to overlook things like this, but since this is the first in the series, not much was resolved at the end.
Would I recommend this book? Yes! The story is worth it, and if you're less annoyed by star-crossed lovers than I am, you'll probably love it.
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LibraryThing member sedelia
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first of a series, and because it's the first, it suffers from being a bit slow in the beginning so that the foundation is laid for the rest of the books. However, the payoff is there, and I was in love with the story by the end.
However, I actually didn't start
But I loved the story once it got going. I generally try to set aside an hour a day to listen to a book, but when it's good, I have to pry myself away. That definitely happened when Akiva showed up -- once he came into the picture, I was listening to 2-3 hours a day. The "plot twists" were a bit awkward, because I think that they're hinted at too much in the beginning and easily guessable, but that's redeemed by the characters' reactions to those twists -- the characters are simply beautifully done.
Hvam is a great narrator who does a good job with differentiating between characters. I especially loved her ability to capture the characters' personalities with the way she spoke. Issa had a crooning voice and lingered over vowel sounds, which made me think of her as a loving, doting sort of aunt figure to Karou. When Hvam spoke as Zuzana, on the other hand, her sounds were clipped, giving her a no-nonsense sort of feel. Hvam's narration added life to the characters and the story, in general. I think I enjoyed the story more in audio format than I would have in printed, just because I felt so close to the characters through the audio.
I have already added the sequel to my "to-read" list, and am excited to continue with this story. For those who aren't good at waiting, the end was a bit abrupt, so if you want to start this series, be sure to have the first two books at hand!
However, I actually didn't start
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really liking the story until about midway through, when we get to the more fantastical elements. I think that Taylor was trying to set up a contrast between Karou's human world and the otherworld she grew up in, but the Prague stuff just wasn't all that interesting. Her ex-boyfriend Kasimir is a useless character who doesn't add anything to the story, and while I liked her best friend, Zuzana, I just didn't see how they really added anything much to the overall conflict.But I loved the story once it got going. I generally try to set aside an hour a day to listen to a book, but when it's good, I have to pry myself away. That definitely happened when Akiva showed up -- once he came into the picture, I was listening to 2-3 hours a day. The "plot twists" were a bit awkward, because I think that they're hinted at too much in the beginning and easily guessable, but that's redeemed by the characters' reactions to those twists -- the characters are simply beautifully done.
Hvam is a great narrator who does a good job with differentiating between characters. I especially loved her ability to capture the characters' personalities with the way she spoke. Issa had a crooning voice and lingered over vowel sounds, which made me think of her as a loving, doting sort of aunt figure to Karou. When Hvam spoke as Zuzana, on the other hand, her sounds were clipped, giving her a no-nonsense sort of feel. Hvam's narration added life to the characters and the story, in general. I think I enjoyed the story more in audio format than I would have in printed, just because I felt so close to the characters through the audio.
I have already added the sequel to my "to-read" list, and am excited to continue with this story. For those who aren't good at waiting, the end was a bit abrupt, so if you want to start this series, be sure to have the first two books at hand!
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LibraryThing member pianofreak95
When this book first came out, it had a bunch of buzz. Usually, for me, that means I'm going to love the book. So when after months of thinking about reading it but not getting a chance, when I saw this at the library I grabbed it right away. It sounded really interesting, so I was super excited. I
But then the romance entered.
I'm sad to say this is just one of those books that I had to skip large portions of to get anything out of the experience. The dialogue between Karou and her friends is great, and the world that Taylor created is so creative and creepy. But then LOVE had to happen and then I hated the book. It wasn't that I'm not a fan of love at first sight, but seriously, I just didn't like the way it was put together. I fell terrible for giving a book with such great opportunity and writing such a negative review, but I couldn't even really finish the book because the romance put a sour taste in my mouth for some reason.
I wouldn't say this book was outright terrible, because there were moments where I loved the writing and such, but I just can't stand the way the couple interacted. If this book had more fantasy and less super predictable romance, I may have given it four stars, with the romance, it gets two. :/
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read the first hundred and fifty pages no problem.But then the romance entered.
I'm sad to say this is just one of those books that I had to skip large portions of to get anything out of the experience. The dialogue between Karou and her friends is great, and the world that Taylor created is so creative and creepy. But then LOVE had to happen and then I hated the book. It wasn't that I'm not a fan of love at first sight, but seriously, I just didn't like the way it was put together. I fell terrible for giving a book with such great opportunity and writing such a negative review, but I couldn't even really finish the book because the romance put a sour taste in my mouth for some reason.
I wouldn't say this book was outright terrible, because there were moments where I loved the writing and such, but I just can't stand the way the couple interacted. If this book had more fantasy and less super predictable romance, I may have given it four stars, with the romance, it gets two. :/
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Karou might seem like a typical art student - blue hair, tattoos, and a penchant for drawing fantastical creatures - but the creatures she draws aren't from her imagination, they're from her childhood. Karou was raised by Chimera, particularly one named Brimstone, and even now she runs
Review: This book was good - really, really good. And, more to the point, very unusual, and despite the presence of the Seraphim, very much unlike any other teen paranormal romance I've read. (They're called Seraphim and have wings and all that, but it's not a fallen angel story, nor are they even explicitly Judeo-Christian-variety angels.) The fantasy landscape that Taylor builds is incredibly original, and has the neat trick where story and worldbuilding elements that seem arbitrary or confusing for most of the book suddenly snap into logical place by the end. Because, I know, reading that summary, you're thinking "Teeth? Monsters that collect teeth? And angels? What the hell?" And I will admit that I spent a fair amount of the book with that same feeling of not really knowing what was going on, and if it all had a point. But it does, and that point is very original, and very neat.
The plot structure of this book is also pretty strange. In most books, there are clues that I piece together gradually, building my idea of what's going on, until the big reveal at the end snaps everything into place. In this case, however, I spent the first half of the book with almost no idea what was going on, and then the penny dropped, and I figured everything else out in a rush, and so I spent the back half of the book (which delves into Akiva's past, and thus has a completely different setting and cast of characters) knowing almost everything that was going on. Typically, I would have expected that kind of story trajectory to be frustrating and boring by turns, but somehow, Taylor has written her story so that I was willing to go along for the ride in the first half, and was invested enough to want to hear the specifics of how everything played out in the second. Her writing was also quite good at the level of prose styling: very evocative of both the back alleys of Prague and the Chimeras' city, and lush and descriptive while still maintaining a snappy edge throughout.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first book in a series (trilogy, I think?), but I felt like it ended at a satisfying stopping place. I'll definitely be continuing on with the series as it's published, and hopefully I'll be able to pick the rest up in audio as well; I thought Khristine Hvam did a wonderful job with the narration, keeping the voices distinguishable without sounding fake, and keeping the reading lively with the appropriate degree of emotion. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended for fans of YA fantasy that are sick of vampires and in the mood for something new and different.
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errands for him, collecting teeth which he exchanges for wishes. Karou's never been sure what he needs the teeth for, but when Brimstone sends her on an errand to some exotic corner of the world, she goes - he's family, after all. Karou's relatively happy in her double life, until the unthinkable happens: someone - someone who looks very like an angel - destroys the portals to Brimstone's shop, stranding Karou in Prague. As angry as she is, she's still strangely drawn to the angel Akiva - and he to her - and as she uncovers the truth about who she really is, she will find herself caught in the middle of a deadly and interminable war.Review: This book was good - really, really good. And, more to the point, very unusual, and despite the presence of the Seraphim, very much unlike any other teen paranormal romance I've read. (They're called Seraphim and have wings and all that, but it's not a fallen angel story, nor are they even explicitly Judeo-Christian-variety angels.) The fantasy landscape that Taylor builds is incredibly original, and has the neat trick where story and worldbuilding elements that seem arbitrary or confusing for most of the book suddenly snap into logical place by the end. Because, I know, reading that summary, you're thinking "Teeth? Monsters that collect teeth? And angels? What the hell?" And I will admit that I spent a fair amount of the book with that same feeling of not really knowing what was going on, and if it all had a point. But it does, and that point is very original, and very neat.
The plot structure of this book is also pretty strange. In most books, there are clues that I piece together gradually, building my idea of what's going on, until the big reveal at the end snaps everything into place. In this case, however, I spent the first half of the book with almost no idea what was going on, and then the penny dropped, and I figured everything else out in a rush, and so I spent the back half of the book (which delves into Akiva's past, and thus has a completely different setting and cast of characters) knowing almost everything that was going on. Typically, I would have expected that kind of story trajectory to be frustrating and boring by turns, but somehow, Taylor has written her story so that I was willing to go along for the ride in the first half, and was invested enough to want to hear the specifics of how everything played out in the second. Her writing was also quite good at the level of prose styling: very evocative of both the back alleys of Prague and the Chimeras' city, and lush and descriptive while still maintaining a snappy edge throughout.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the first book in a series (trilogy, I think?), but I felt like it ended at a satisfying stopping place. I'll definitely be continuing on with the series as it's published, and hopefully I'll be able to pick the rest up in audio as well; I thought Khristine Hvam did a wonderful job with the narration, keeping the voices distinguishable without sounding fake, and keeping the reading lively with the appropriate degree of emotion. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended for fans of YA fantasy that are sick of vampires and in the mood for something new and different.
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LibraryThing member sublunarie
Not really impressed. I am not a fan of books that end with "to be continued". It's like a slap in the face, like you've finished the book for nothing.
But I WOULD like blue hair...
But I WOULD like blue hair...
LibraryThing member Violetthedwarf
I think I'd have liked it more without the romance.
I am becoming almost anti-romance now, because I've read so much unlikely, unrealistic, unhealthy romance in YA fantasy. In this, the romance almost spoiled the actual story for me.
I am becoming almost anti-romance now, because I've read so much unlikely, unrealistic, unhealthy romance in YA fantasy. In this, the romance almost spoiled the actual story for me.
LibraryThing member CurrerBell
I've given this book three-and-a-half stars based on my own preferences. I don't at all particularly care for demon-angel-romance stories, and anyone who does is likely to give this book four-and-a-half or even five. I bought it (and I'll buy its sequel as well) because of the author, but I do hope
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Laini Taylor returns to her "Dreamdark" series soon. Show Less
LibraryThing member Erin.Briggs
I had purchased this book along with a few other YA type novels and I made the unfortunate decision of starting The Maze Runner first. After completing that book, I was pretty miffed by the whole YA genre, so I Googled "What is wrong with YA". It lead me to a rant about the current state of Young
Needless to say, I didn't go into this book having very high hopes. About 100 pages into the book I started a running checklist in my head: Female lead character? Check. Meets dangerous "hot guy"? Check. Hot guy is an asshole? Check. Girl feels mysterious connection to him? Check check. Something mildly exciting happens? Another check.
It probably wasn't until the midway point of the book that I was able to finally shake those thoughts and realize that I was quickening my pace of pages read and length of time seated with the book. I found the characters in Liani Taylor's book to be very interesting and colorful, weaving an engrossing story, that though at times is predictable, but no less interesting. Karou isn't the type of bland, no-personality heroine we have come to expect in the YA-paranormal genre, but a vibrant individual that you can't help but cheering for.
At times, I will say that the periphery characters do seem a little more interesting, Brimstone who has the frame of a man with the legs of a lion and the head of a ram. Or Issa, half woman half serpent. You find yourself wanting to know more about them, but I believe the end of the book is setting up for a wider look into their world in the next. With that being said, I can't help but look forward to November 6th when the second book arrives on shelves!
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Adult paranormal novels which was spurred on by Twilight.Needless to say, I didn't go into this book having very high hopes. About 100 pages into the book I started a running checklist in my head: Female lead character? Check. Meets dangerous "hot guy"? Check. Hot guy is an asshole? Check. Girl feels mysterious connection to him? Check check. Something mildly exciting happens? Another check.
It probably wasn't until the midway point of the book that I was able to finally shake those thoughts and realize that I was quickening my pace of pages read and length of time seated with the book. I found the characters in Liani Taylor's book to be very interesting and colorful, weaving an engrossing story, that though at times is predictable, but no less interesting. Karou isn't the type of bland, no-personality heroine we have come to expect in the YA-paranormal genre, but a vibrant individual that you can't help but cheering for.
At times, I will say that the periphery characters do seem a little more interesting, Brimstone who has the frame of a man with the legs of a lion and the head of a ram. Or Issa, half woman half serpent. You find yourself wanting to know more about them, but I believe the end of the book is setting up for a wider look into their world in the next. With that being said, I can't help but look forward to November 6th when the second book arrives on shelves!
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LibraryThing member sch_94
My Summary: Karou was raised by a loving family ... of monsters. Living with them in their shop, Karou was raised in the world of chimera and magic. She's had everything she could ever wish for, but Karou always felt that she was supposed to be doing something else; supposed to be somewhere
But its not until mysterious burning handprints begin to appear on the doorways to her family's world - cutting her off from the only people who have ever cared about her - does Karou discover the truth about who she is and where she came from. In the midst of all this, Karou is drawn to the mysterious stranger she met with the piercing eyes; he almost killed her the first time they met, but she's determined to figure out what his role is in the disappearance of her chimera family.
My Thoughts: Once in a while a book comes along that's unlike any other in its genre - Daughter of Smoke & Bone is definitely that book. When I read the first stopped to read the first few lines in the bookstore, it turned into the first few pages, and then into the first two chapters. At that point I checked my watch and realized I was going to be late for work, so I grabbed a copy, paid for it, and ran out the door. My thoughts were still stuck on the book all through my shift, and when I finally got home, I didn't stop reading until I was done the book.
The writing was flawless, and I adored the use of Prague as the setting - I mean, it's Prague! It added to the whole mysterious atmosphere of the novel and made me want to book a ticket on the next plane. I also really liked the fact that it's not a typical YA romance where boy meets girl and they find out they're meant to be together forever and music starts playing and everything is pink and smells like cotton candy... you know what I mean. This novel was edgy (which I love) and didn't have that typical YA story-line.
Final Thoughts: If you haven't already, pick up a copy of Daughter of Smoke & Bone! I recommend it to anyone over 16 who enjoys more complex and mature paranormal YA.
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else....But its not until mysterious burning handprints begin to appear on the doorways to her family's world - cutting her off from the only people who have ever cared about her - does Karou discover the truth about who she is and where she came from. In the midst of all this, Karou is drawn to the mysterious stranger she met with the piercing eyes; he almost killed her the first time they met, but she's determined to figure out what his role is in the disappearance of her chimera family.
My Thoughts: Once in a while a book comes along that's unlike any other in its genre - Daughter of Smoke & Bone is definitely that book. When I read the first stopped to read the first few lines in the bookstore, it turned into the first few pages, and then into the first two chapters. At that point I checked my watch and realized I was going to be late for work, so I grabbed a copy, paid for it, and ran out the door. My thoughts were still stuck on the book all through my shift, and when I finally got home, I didn't stop reading until I was done the book.
The writing was flawless, and I adored the use of Prague as the setting - I mean, it's Prague! It added to the whole mysterious atmosphere of the novel and made me want to book a ticket on the next plane. I also really liked the fact that it's not a typical YA romance where boy meets girl and they find out they're meant to be together forever and music starts playing and everything is pink and smells like cotton candy... you know what I mean. This novel was edgy (which I love) and didn't have that typical YA story-line.
Final Thoughts: If you haven't already, pick up a copy of Daughter of Smoke & Bone! I recommend it to anyone over 16 who enjoys more complex and mature paranormal YA.
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LibraryThing member alaiel.kreuz
Refreshing and original from page one. I completely enjoyed this book. You know when sometimes you find a book so good you don't care if it's 3am? You just need to keep reading. Well, this one was one of those.
Karou is not your average girl. At all. She can't remember her parents, her hair is blue
Oh my, let's not forget the fact that she was raised by chimaeras. Amazingly cool chimaeras who, for some reason, decided to take her in.
Do you know what chimaeras are? They are creatures that are part human and part animal. In some cultures they are supposed to be some kind of demons, in others they are simply beings. Since I don't do spoilers you will have to read the book to know who are these creatures.
Back to the book: Karou do all sorts of errands for Brimstone, the leader of the chimaera, who collects teeth. Why teeth? He uses them to make necklaces that will grant wishes. Since wishes have different values so does the teeth he uses to create the necklaces.
But in one of those errands she runs into an angel who, when he discovers for who she works, tries to kill her but fails because, in the last second, he had to stop. He doesn't know why but he just couldn't kill her.
Short after that all the doors that communicate our world with Elsewhere (the chimaeras world) are destroyed stopping Karou from visiting her family who, she is sure, is in great danger.
And while trying to discover what went wrong with the doors and finding her family she is about to discover who she is -who she was- and it might be the most difficult thing for her to endure... Maybe Akiva, the angel who tried to kill her, can help her somehow. But sometimes destiny is just pain cruel and sometimes when trying to find answers you just end up stuck in the middle of a war.
How convenient, right?
Personal opinion:
Pick up the book, don't forget a drink, maybe hot chocolate now that winter is coming and sit down with the book. Take a depth breath and let yourself go with the world that Laini Taylor will create for you to see. This amazing author just took the average -and used- fight between angels and demons into another whole level.
Karou is clever, strong, independent, fascinating, brave and loyal. The chimaeras are not creatures in her eyes, they are her family, the only thing she has in this world and nothing is going to stop her from finding them. I can't help but admire her.
The adventure begins in Prague but get ready to be taken to a lot of different countries, different environments and situations. Karou's life is full of color: friends, places, art, Prague, adventure... every component is a color. Read the book to understand what I'm saying, is difficult to express.
This is a love story that will make you heart melt, make you hyperventilate and cry because some things are just too precious to lose.
And the title? I couldn't help but smile when I found out the reason of the title. Really, really good!
Karou is not your average girl. At all. She can't remember her parents, her hair is blue
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(real blue), she speaks at least 8 languages and her skills for painting are amazing.Oh my, let's not forget the fact that she was raised by chimaeras. Amazingly cool chimaeras who, for some reason, decided to take her in.
Do you know what chimaeras are? They are creatures that are part human and part animal. In some cultures they are supposed to be some kind of demons, in others they are simply beings. Since I don't do spoilers you will have to read the book to know who are these creatures.
Back to the book: Karou do all sorts of errands for Brimstone, the leader of the chimaera, who collects teeth. Why teeth? He uses them to make necklaces that will grant wishes. Since wishes have different values so does the teeth he uses to create the necklaces.
But in one of those errands she runs into an angel who, when he discovers for who she works, tries to kill her but fails because, in the last second, he had to stop. He doesn't know why but he just couldn't kill her.
Short after that all the doors that communicate our world with Elsewhere (the chimaeras world) are destroyed stopping Karou from visiting her family who, she is sure, is in great danger.
And while trying to discover what went wrong with the doors and finding her family she is about to discover who she is -who she was- and it might be the most difficult thing for her to endure... Maybe Akiva, the angel who tried to kill her, can help her somehow. But sometimes destiny is just pain cruel and sometimes when trying to find answers you just end up stuck in the middle of a war.
How convenient, right?
Personal opinion:
Pick up the book, don't forget a drink, maybe hot chocolate now that winter is coming and sit down with the book. Take a depth breath and let yourself go with the world that Laini Taylor will create for you to see. This amazing author just took the average -and used- fight between angels and demons into another whole level.
Karou is clever, strong, independent, fascinating, brave and loyal. The chimaeras are not creatures in her eyes, they are her family, the only thing she has in this world and nothing is going to stop her from finding them. I can't help but admire her.
The adventure begins in Prague but get ready to be taken to a lot of different countries, different environments and situations. Karou's life is full of color: friends, places, art, Prague, adventure... every component is a color. Read the book to understand what I'm saying, is difficult to express.
This is a love story that will make you heart melt, make you hyperventilate and cry because some things are just too precious to lose.
And the title? I couldn't help but smile when I found out the reason of the title. Really, really good!
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LibraryThing member TheYodamom
Audio- Nothing in this was what I expected. I could not predict anything, a rarity. The author took me to a world of angels, magics and mixed animal beings that took my breath away. An amazing multileveled mystery that starts with teeth and ends with the backlash of an ancient war. The characters
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are strong, week and even humbling. It's just a beautifully written story not to be missed. The ending left me hanging and hoping. I have to have the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member elissajanine
I was amazed by the way this book was plotted, the way all the details came together in the end. The prose was lovely as well.
LibraryThing member WinterFox
I had a lot of expectations for this book, just for having picked it up off a best-of-2011 list from someone whose opinions I usually trust on it, and because I really wanted to see the setting. I don't know of a lot of other books set in Prague, and I wanted to see how it played it. Turned out
So here's the story of our blue-haired, tattooed teenager Karou, who's living a double life, an art student in Prague, and a errand girl for her adoptive family, who just happen to be a bunch of chimera-like demons, made up of different types of people and animals. Yes, our Karou's formative years were spent in a shop that trades in all sorts of teeth in exchange for wishes of all sizes, run by a big demon named Brimstone. Karou's a bit impulsive, using wishes to color her hair, to annoy romantic rivals, etc. But she's a pretty dependable and capable sort. She's a quite well-realized character all around, really - fierce and capable and clever, lonely and longing and vulnerable. I really liked her.
All's not well in the world of demon tooth collecting, though, and before too long, angels appear, marking all of the shop's portals into the world. We get a lot of backstory as to the nature of the world of the angels and the chimera, and about the characters and their relationships to that world and this one; really, the world building is very good, and the characters on both sides nicely realized. I really enjoyed the feel of the place, and Taylor's prose helps out - vividly descriptive, really nailing Prague, and giving you a sense of the other world that feels fresh and well done. I was really happy with all of that.
The only thing I didn't like was the big paranormal romance jumpout, and I feel like I have to put something in here about it. We have an honest-to-goodness feels-like-we're-fated head-over-heels romance deal in this thing with a perfect angel of a guy, cold at first but opens up to just our heroine because she feels special, is so beautiful that it seems unreal... stop me if this sounds like you've heard it before. I think it's done well for what it is, and it's redeemed by some of the backstory, and I like the character in question well enough, but it definitely wasn't a turn-on, and if you really can't handle that kind of thing, I'd skip the book.
But that said, I wouldn't recommend skipping it. No, I'd recommend reading it a whole lot. Real world-building, real characters, and real consequences to small decisions and large. I'm definitely reading the sequel to this one when it comes out.
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this book was pretty awesome, for the most part, but not quite all the way there for me.So here's the story of our blue-haired, tattooed teenager Karou, who's living a double life, an art student in Prague, and a errand girl for her adoptive family, who just happen to be a bunch of chimera-like demons, made up of different types of people and animals. Yes, our Karou's formative years were spent in a shop that trades in all sorts of teeth in exchange for wishes of all sizes, run by a big demon named Brimstone. Karou's a bit impulsive, using wishes to color her hair, to annoy romantic rivals, etc. But she's a pretty dependable and capable sort. She's a quite well-realized character all around, really - fierce and capable and clever, lonely and longing and vulnerable. I really liked her.
All's not well in the world of demon tooth collecting, though, and before too long, angels appear, marking all of the shop's portals into the world. We get a lot of backstory as to the nature of the world of the angels and the chimera, and about the characters and their relationships to that world and this one; really, the world building is very good, and the characters on both sides nicely realized. I really enjoyed the feel of the place, and Taylor's prose helps out - vividly descriptive, really nailing Prague, and giving you a sense of the other world that feels fresh and well done. I was really happy with all of that.
The only thing I didn't like was the big paranormal romance jumpout, and I feel like I have to put something in here about it. We have an honest-to-goodness feels-like-we're-fated head-over-heels romance deal in this thing with a perfect angel of a guy, cold at first but opens up to just our heroine because she feels special, is so beautiful that it seems unreal... stop me if this sounds like you've heard it before. I think it's done well for what it is, and it's redeemed by some of the backstory, and I like the character in question well enough, but it definitely wasn't a turn-on, and if you really can't handle that kind of thing, I'd skip the book.
But that said, I wouldn't recommend skipping it. No, I'd recommend reading it a whole lot. Real world-building, real characters, and real consequences to small decisions and large. I'm definitely reading the sequel to this one when it comes out.
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LibraryThing member JuneCat
Daughter of Smoke & Bone is the latest novel of National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor. It's a young adult book. It's a magical and intriguing fantasy. It's a love story.
The jacket copy is intriguing and it could be just another paranormal story, but Laini Taylor exemplifies why she is a
Taylor writes with a lush use of words. They're lyrical and sweeping. The characterizations are layered and full-bodied. She's created a fanciful, but intense mythology. Karou shows us what she's made of right from the start. She deals with an ex-boyfriend in ways that will make you laugh and clearly shows the depth and determination of her character. You know this is a girl that's not going to give up and the reader is fully engrossed in her journey and her world and what a picturesque and rich world it is. The author has traveled to lush and exotic locales. She has a colorful, quirky spirit and shocking pink hair of her own! Her luxuriant descriptions and original turns of phrase are clear evidence of her creative sensibility.
This is a tale of star-crossed lovers. Karou's connection to Akiva, the beautiful warrior is a mystery. The truth is shocking. The conclusion of this tale will leave you with a gaping mouth. It must be continued. And will be in the sequel! I can't wait.
The jacket copy is intriguing and it could be just another paranormal story, but Laini Taylor exemplifies why she is a
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National Book Award finalist. She takes us into the world of Karou, the seventeen-year-old art student with the ultramarine colored hair--yes. It grows out of her head that color--and her most unusual family. They're monsters, their anatomy consisting of a patchwork of varying creatures. Karou lives the life of an average student--when she's not running errands for Brimstone--the closest thing Karou has for a father. Human arms and torso, a ram's head and claws for hands--that's what Brimstone consists of. He sends Karou on missions to collect the teeth that he needs. She slips in and out of doors that lead to all parts of the world and all these doors lead back to her family--back to Elsewhere--that is nowhere and everywhere. Karou has tried to make sense of these creatures that have loved and cared for her as long as she could remember. And there lies the problem. Karou knows there are missing components of her life. It's like waking from a dream and parts fade away like mist, into the ether of the atmosphere, leaving a lingering flavor of a greater substance that is now obscured.Taylor writes with a lush use of words. They're lyrical and sweeping. The characterizations are layered and full-bodied. She's created a fanciful, but intense mythology. Karou shows us what she's made of right from the start. She deals with an ex-boyfriend in ways that will make you laugh and clearly shows the depth and determination of her character. You know this is a girl that's not going to give up and the reader is fully engrossed in her journey and her world and what a picturesque and rich world it is. The author has traveled to lush and exotic locales. She has a colorful, quirky spirit and shocking pink hair of her own! Her luxuriant descriptions and original turns of phrase are clear evidence of her creative sensibility.
This is a tale of star-crossed lovers. Karou's connection to Akiva, the beautiful warrior is a mystery. The truth is shocking. The conclusion of this tale will leave you with a gaping mouth. It must be continued. And will be in the sequel! I can't wait.
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LibraryThing member renkellym
From the very first page, it’s apparent that Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a beautifully written book. Laini Taylor’s writing style is decadent and smooth; the tale is told in a manner that isn’t casual but isn’t incredibly formal, either. There’s a perfect balance in Taylor’s
Daughter of Smoke and Bone stands out amongst the rest of paranormal YA because of how deep and fully fleshed out its background is. There’s the setting—Prague, among other places—which is utterly breathtaking and very, very vivid, and there’s also distinct, well-crafted mythology that leaves the reader craving more. The fantasy world that Taylor builds has detailed history, rituals, and conflicts that make it seem alive.
The setting and mythology of Daughter of Smoke and Bone will instantly captivate you, but the characters are what will truly make you fall in love. Karou, the protagonist, is the most unique girl you’ll ever meet. She has blue hair, tattoos, and a quirky personality. Her story, as it unfolds, is simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful, and we eventually get to know Karou as an almost entirely different person by the book’s end. Akiva, Karou’s mysterious love interest, is dark and tortured, but he isn’t stereotypical in any way. His chemistry with Karou is pitch perfect, but even before they meet, it’s easy to like him as a character.
Minor characters also shine in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. From Brimstone, the grumpy wishmonger to Karou’s best friend Zuzana, the characters that don’t take center stage still manage to be complex and pivotal to the story.
If you’re looking for something deliciously dark, unique, and completely enthralling, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is an excellent choice. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the story immediately, and I still can’t get Daughter of Smoke and Bone out of my head.
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style—it is rich at moments, and conversational at others. There is balance, too, in the way Taylor puts together Daughter of Smoke and Bone. The book jumps back and forth in time occasionally, but it’s always at the right moment, and it’s never disorienting. Major plot points are revealed through these little flashbacks, and when the timeline finally snaps back to the present, the reader is almost always left with a sense of awe.Daughter of Smoke and Bone stands out amongst the rest of paranormal YA because of how deep and fully fleshed out its background is. There’s the setting—Prague, among other places—which is utterly breathtaking and very, very vivid, and there’s also distinct, well-crafted mythology that leaves the reader craving more. The fantasy world that Taylor builds has detailed history, rituals, and conflicts that make it seem alive.
The setting and mythology of Daughter of Smoke and Bone will instantly captivate you, but the characters are what will truly make you fall in love. Karou, the protagonist, is the most unique girl you’ll ever meet. She has blue hair, tattoos, and a quirky personality. Her story, as it unfolds, is simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful, and we eventually get to know Karou as an almost entirely different person by the book’s end. Akiva, Karou’s mysterious love interest, is dark and tortured, but he isn’t stereotypical in any way. His chemistry with Karou is pitch perfect, but even before they meet, it’s easy to like him as a character.
Minor characters also shine in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. From Brimstone, the grumpy wishmonger to Karou’s best friend Zuzana, the characters that don’t take center stage still manage to be complex and pivotal to the story.
If you’re looking for something deliciously dark, unique, and completely enthralling, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is an excellent choice. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the story immediately, and I still can’t get Daughter of Smoke and Bone out of my head.
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LibraryThing member jenniferthomp75
Wonderful fantasy novel filled with love, loss, strange creatures and angels.
Taylor has created a fresh world full of magic that draws the reader in from the beginning. Karou, the main character, is a strong-willed young woman determined to protect her foster father and her friends at any cost.
The book has great twists and turns and the ending is excellent. Can't wait for the next one!
Taylor has created a fresh world full of magic that draws the reader in from the beginning. Karou, the main character, is a strong-willed young woman determined to protect her foster father and her friends at any cost.
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When she meets Akiva, she is drawn to him not only by his good looks but also by something she cannot name.The book has great twists and turns and the ending is excellent. Can't wait for the next one!
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LibraryThing member allureofbooks
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is very original and well-written. I went into the not knowing at all what to expect, and fell in love with it very early on! Fiercely intelligent, culturally diverse…prepare to be plunged headfirst into a world unlike any other.
Seriously y’all,
I haven’t enjoyed most of the angel books I’ve read, and I’ve become pretty wary of them all. Same goes with the whole paranormal forbidden love thing – I’m a little tired of it. This one is definitely different though, it brings so much quirkiness and cultural blending to the table. Plus, thank goodness, there is no love triangle!
There really isn’t a lot more I can say about this book that hasn’t already been said…but seriously guys. This is one you can’t miss! As layers of mystery begin to get peeled back, more and more questions start to arise. Karou realizes how little she knows about the world of the chimeras, and also comes to realize that she is closer to it than she ever imagined. The plot has lots of twists and turns that will have you dying to see what Karou discovers next!
Highly, highly recommended, especially if you love the fantasy genre. I’ll definitely be reading Laini Taylor’s back list now that I’ve seen an example of what she can do!
Seriously y’all,
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this is one of those books that has it all. The writing was so lush and gorgeous – the characters enigmatic and one-of-a-kind. Karou is a young woman with a pretty different upbringing: she was raised by a collection of chimeras. She is now an art student in Prague, but constantly goes on errands for her makeshift family. She collects teeth and takes them back through one of a collection of doors that work as portals. (And if you’re curious about the whole teeth thing, let me tell you, so was I! Definitely a question best left for the book to answer.) She starts noticing that more and more of the doors suddenly have burned hand prints on them – and before long the other world she is a part of is thrown into chaos. Toss in a little forbidden love with an enemy angel and we have ourselves a story!I haven’t enjoyed most of the angel books I’ve read, and I’ve become pretty wary of them all. Same goes with the whole paranormal forbidden love thing – I’m a little tired of it. This one is definitely different though, it brings so much quirkiness and cultural blending to the table. Plus, thank goodness, there is no love triangle!
There really isn’t a lot more I can say about this book that hasn’t already been said…but seriously guys. This is one you can’t miss! As layers of mystery begin to get peeled back, more and more questions start to arise. Karou realizes how little she knows about the world of the chimeras, and also comes to realize that she is closer to it than she ever imagined. The plot has lots of twists and turns that will have you dying to see what Karou discovers next!
Highly, highly recommended, especially if you love the fantasy genre. I’ll definitely be reading Laini Taylor’s back list now that I’ve seen an example of what she can do!
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
Wow, I was not prepared for the last fifty pages of this book at ALL. Taylor proves herself a master at the magical reality/fantasy genre in “Daughter of Smoke & Bone” and I can barely get the words out to tell you guys how much I loved this book. Everything about it was glorious, there was
What I loved the most was the idea that angels are not connected to a Judeo-Christian god (even though Taylor takes a lot from Judaism myths about angels for this book), but rather, just to another universe where they co-exist with other races/species on a planet not too much unlike Earth (well, except for the flying and magic part, of course). Out of all of the angel-related YA books this year, I think that Taylor’s book is the only to raise this question/topic of other life in the universe, other universes close to ours. And then there is the question of why we wage war, and what can be done to stop war (even if those efforts may fail). It’s a serious topic that definitely demands our attention, but not until the second half of the book.
The first half – oh god, I so want to go to Prague now. I’ve never been to Europe (though I have galloped my way around Japan), and now I’m positively dying to go. The way Taylor writes her locations is so real that I can practically smell the alleys, feel the chill in the air from the snow, and taste the tea at Poison. She effectively makes her setting as a separate character, and that depends on where we are in this world – whether it be Paris, Prague, or Turkey. I’ve never been to any of those places, but Taylor took me there with her words, and that’s very difficult to pull off. I’m happy to say she way exceeded my expectations for this book, and not just in this aspect of things. Setting as character is hard to do in any kind of medium – be it in TV, film, traditional art, or writing. Many try and fail. But she breathes life into everything she touches, and it’s so refreshing to be immersed in, guys, I can’t even tell you.
After finishing this last night, I basically babbled to my mother for half an hour or more about it. Embarrassing. This doesn’t happen often. But it happened with Taylor’s book. Obviously I need to go read her other work now.
We’re left hanging as to whether Karou will forgive Akiva, so I’m dying to read another installment should it be coming (and I sincerely hope it does). Her characters are charismatic, even if they’re the villains, or the characters you love to hate. She makes them whole and real, and the scene with Zuzana’s marionette street theatre piece was so real I could practically hear the clicking of the marionette strings above her. It was lovely.
So obviously, I just can’t get enough of this book/world/author. But don’t take my word for it. “Daughter of Smoke & Bone” is due to hit shelves in North America on September 27th, later elsewhere (consult your local bookstore if you’re located elsewhere). Seriously. It’s worth the money, guys, so go buy it once it comes out.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witch of theatregoing.wordpress.com)
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never a moment that had me bored or losing interest, and it’s a fabulous blend of all kinds of current myths and legends in one huge melting pot. If you’re going to read a magical reality/fantasy YA book this year that’s not about (traditional) angels/werewolves/etc, make it “Daughter of Smoke & Bone”What I loved the most was the idea that angels are not connected to a Judeo-Christian god (even though Taylor takes a lot from Judaism myths about angels for this book), but rather, just to another universe where they co-exist with other races/species on a planet not too much unlike Earth (well, except for the flying and magic part, of course). Out of all of the angel-related YA books this year, I think that Taylor’s book is the only to raise this question/topic of other life in the universe, other universes close to ours. And then there is the question of why we wage war, and what can be done to stop war (even if those efforts may fail). It’s a serious topic that definitely demands our attention, but not until the second half of the book.
The first half – oh god, I so want to go to Prague now. I’ve never been to Europe (though I have galloped my way around Japan), and now I’m positively dying to go. The way Taylor writes her locations is so real that I can practically smell the alleys, feel the chill in the air from the snow, and taste the tea at Poison. She effectively makes her setting as a separate character, and that depends on where we are in this world – whether it be Paris, Prague, or Turkey. I’ve never been to any of those places, but Taylor took me there with her words, and that’s very difficult to pull off. I’m happy to say she way exceeded my expectations for this book, and not just in this aspect of things. Setting as character is hard to do in any kind of medium – be it in TV, film, traditional art, or writing. Many try and fail. But she breathes life into everything she touches, and it’s so refreshing to be immersed in, guys, I can’t even tell you.
After finishing this last night, I basically babbled to my mother for half an hour or more about it. Embarrassing. This doesn’t happen often. But it happened with Taylor’s book. Obviously I need to go read her other work now.
We’re left hanging as to whether Karou will forgive Akiva, so I’m dying to read another installment should it be coming (and I sincerely hope it does). Her characters are charismatic, even if they’re the villains, or the characters you love to hate. She makes them whole and real, and the scene with Zuzana’s marionette street theatre piece was so real I could practically hear the clicking of the marionette strings above her. It was lovely.
So obviously, I just can’t get enough of this book/world/author. But don’t take my word for it. “Daughter of Smoke & Bone” is due to hit shelves in North America on September 27th, later elsewhere (consult your local bookstore if you’re located elsewhere). Seriously. It’s worth the money, guys, so go buy it once it comes out.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witch of theatregoing.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member iShanella
I’m at a lost to describe this book. Is it a fairy tale? A twist to the old Romeo and Juliet story? A tale of war? A tale of prejudice? It’s all of these things and more.
Karou is an artist whose imagination creates the wonderful hybrid creatures on the pages of her art-book - which is popular
I was transported.
Laini’s descriptive writing style printed such an impressive image of Prague in my head that I’m ready to call a travel agent and book my flight. If only Brimstone’s shop could be reached via plane.
I was enthralled.
Karou, Zuzana, Issa, Twiga, Yasri, Brimstone and the rest, leaped out of the pages. Laini’s characters are so well developed that I can picture them, right now, almost as if they are crowding my room, vying for my attention. The story was constantly moving, shifting, twisting; but never overwhelming or dull. I practically devoured it.
I was mystified.
One of the best parts of this story was the reveal in the end. In the back of my mind I knew what was happening, I knew where the story was going - because of the clues that were hidden along the way - but it wasn’t until the reveal that everything became clear. I love when authors can achieve that balance, giving just enough for you to think you’ve got it, but leaving just enough out for you to be surprised in the end. This was the case with Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It was a perfect blend of romance, adventure, and suspense. I cannot wait to read more from Laini!
Karou is an artist whose imagination creates the wonderful hybrid creatures on the pages of her art-book - which is popular
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among the other art students at her school in Prague. The creatures are so realistic and Karou even has stories about them, telling it all with the wry smile that hides the fact that her imaginative creations and fantastic stories are real. I was transported.
Laini’s descriptive writing style printed such an impressive image of Prague in my head that I’m ready to call a travel agent and book my flight. If only Brimstone’s shop could be reached via plane.
I was enthralled.
Karou, Zuzana, Issa, Twiga, Yasri, Brimstone and the rest, leaped out of the pages. Laini’s characters are so well developed that I can picture them, right now, almost as if they are crowding my room, vying for my attention. The story was constantly moving, shifting, twisting; but never overwhelming or dull. I practically devoured it.
I was mystified.
One of the best parts of this story was the reveal in the end. In the back of my mind I knew what was happening, I knew where the story was going - because of the clues that were hidden along the way - but it wasn’t until the reveal that everything became clear. I love when authors can achieve that balance, giving just enough for you to think you’ve got it, but leaving just enough out for you to be surprised in the end. This was the case with Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It was a perfect blend of romance, adventure, and suspense. I cannot wait to read more from Laini!
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LibraryThing member poetrytoprose
Perfect. The end.
Okay, in all seriousness, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of those amazing reads that make it so incredibly difficult to try to review. On the surface, the book has some familiar elements that we’ve seen before: angels and devils, forbidden romance, star-crossed lovers, magic,
I don’t know what it says about me, but I knew that this was a Favorite — with a capital ‘F’ — once there was a mention of “inessential penises” (page 22 of the ARC). There were several other scenes that Taylor infused with the perfect brand of humor but, in addition to that, she was a master with her world building and words. Prague and “Elsewhere” came alive.
While Daughter of Smoke and Bone has a love story, an ancient battle, and many other things taking place, at its core it’s a story about the discovery of Karou’s identity. She’s brave, quirky, and a bit of a badass, but she’s also very vulnerable; she doesn’t feel whole because her background is a mystery to her. Enter Akiva and the chain of events that revealed who she is. It definitely took me by surprise!
In my experience, side characters often feel so unnecessary in most of my reads because they’re there and then gone without even skimming the surface of who they are. Here, even with the quickest glimpses of some of them, I felt that Taylor created layered personalities. Everyone from Zuzana to Brimstone and the rest of Karou’s family, to Razgut, Chiro, and Iago… A lot of time wasn’t spent with all of them, but attachments and opinions were formed and I had a very clear and vivid picture of who they were.
And then there’s the romance. I honestly get shivers just remembering it! I was quickly on board with the idea of Karou and Akiva, but then it got even better as secrets were revealed and it was just…almost too much. Unexpected. But brilliant and beautiful and so very swoon-worthy. Who knew “Hello” was such a sexy word?
This is a book whose ending I looked forward to with dread because I wanted more. Usually after I finish a book I immediately find a spot for it on my shelf. Not the case with Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It’s been over a month since I first read it and I’ve been unable to move it from my bedside table. I’ve needed it close by for revisits and, though I’ve obviously read other books since then, Karou’s story is one I have not been able to let go of. Taylor’s words, her world, and characters have lingered and I’m aching to experience it all over again in the next two installments. This is not a book you want to miss!
Okay, in all seriousness, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of those amazing reads that make it so incredibly difficult to try to review. On the surface, the book has some familiar elements that we’ve seen before: angels and devils, forbidden romance, star-crossed lovers, magic,
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and secrets…Sounds like a few different books out there, right? But, no, you have not read a book quite like this one. Laini Taylor wove the familiar into something so refreshing and unique, leaving me in awe.I don’t know what it says about me, but I knew that this was a Favorite — with a capital ‘F’ — once there was a mention of “inessential penises” (page 22 of the ARC). There were several other scenes that Taylor infused with the perfect brand of humor but, in addition to that, she was a master with her world building and words. Prague and “Elsewhere” came alive.
While Daughter of Smoke and Bone has a love story, an ancient battle, and many other things taking place, at its core it’s a story about the discovery of Karou’s identity. She’s brave, quirky, and a bit of a badass, but she’s also very vulnerable; she doesn’t feel whole because her background is a mystery to her. Enter Akiva and the chain of events that revealed who she is. It definitely took me by surprise!
In my experience, side characters often feel so unnecessary in most of my reads because they’re there and then gone without even skimming the surface of who they are. Here, even with the quickest glimpses of some of them, I felt that Taylor created layered personalities. Everyone from Zuzana to Brimstone and the rest of Karou’s family, to Razgut, Chiro, and Iago… A lot of time wasn’t spent with all of them, but attachments and opinions were formed and I had a very clear and vivid picture of who they were.
And then there’s the romance. I honestly get shivers just remembering it! I was quickly on board with the idea of Karou and Akiva, but then it got even better as secrets were revealed and it was just…almost too much. Unexpected. But brilliant and beautiful and so very swoon-worthy. Who knew “Hello” was such a sexy word?
This is a book whose ending I looked forward to with dread because I wanted more. Usually after I finish a book I immediately find a spot for it on my shelf. Not the case with Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It’s been over a month since I first read it and I’ve been unable to move it from my bedside table. I’ve needed it close by for revisits and, though I’ve obviously read other books since then, Karou’s story is one I have not been able to let go of. Taylor’s words, her world, and characters have lingered and I’m aching to experience it all over again in the next two installments. This is not a book you want to miss!
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LibraryThing member skaohee
This book is flippin fantastic. I read it in about a day and was pretty much caught up in "Elsewhere". And that is just one of the many, many things that makes Daughter of Smoke and Bone so darn good. Here are some reasons why you should read this book:
The world building is stunning.
I mean, really.
Great Writing
The writing in this book is incredible, bar none. Great descriptions, whisking you away in this fantasy tale of star-crossed lovers and a battle as old as time. I could literally see everything playing out right in front of me. I haven't read Ms. Taylor's other work but I've heard great things about Lips Touch: Three Times and if it's anything like Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I'll be ranting and raving over it as well.
The Ending
Simply amazing. I was on the edge of my seat and now I'm waiting for more.
Side note: I do not like Prague. This is a personal bias against the city because of a bad experience there while I was studying abroad. Going into this book, I was extremely skeptical because it's set in Prague. I have been to the Charles Bridge and some of the other destinations mentioned and you know what? I actually liked this Prague. Seeing the city through Karou's eyes made me actually like Prague. Kudos, Laini Taylor!
The world building is stunning.
I mean, really.
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Some of the best world building I've seen this year between the demons, the angels, and the war. The descriptions of the places that Karou sees while she is in "Elsewhere" and also just the whole notion of this other world where demons are reincarnated during battle. There are such intricate details of this world that it feels real. If you like fantasy, you're going to love this book. So epic.Great Writing
The writing in this book is incredible, bar none. Great descriptions, whisking you away in this fantasy tale of star-crossed lovers and a battle as old as time. I could literally see everything playing out right in front of me. I haven't read Ms. Taylor's other work but I've heard great things about Lips Touch: Three Times and if it's anything like Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I'll be ranting and raving over it as well.
The Ending
Simply amazing. I was on the edge of my seat and now I'm waiting for more.
Side note: I do not like Prague. This is a personal bias against the city because of a bad experience there while I was studying abroad. Going into this book, I was extremely skeptical because it's set in Prague. I have been to the Charles Bridge and some of the other destinations mentioned and you know what? I actually liked this Prague. Seeing the city through Karou's eyes made me actually like Prague. Kudos, Laini Taylor!
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LibraryThing member katiedoll
There is an oddness about me, one that loves peculiar things and wicked things, that I thought only Tim Burton could satisfy. My imagination is endless and I strive to find more books that are so bizarrely creative that they're actually brilliant.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of those
From the first page with the first line, "Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well," I was instantly enraptured. Laini Taylor has a classic, graceful way about her writing, but not once did it feel overwhelming or over the top. The world that Taylor creates is simply alluring. Her descriptions of Prague and the world of the chimaera are so beautiful and easy to visualize, I just wanted to jump through the pages and see it for myself.
Karou has definitely earned a spot in my heart as one of my favorite female fictional characters. She's confident, kick-ass, even comical at times and the way she flits between worlds was so incredibly fascinating to me. She just seemed so real, written with the appropriate emotions and attitudes, that I had a hard time swallowing that she's just this character in this book. I also fell in love with the nearly all of the primary characters. The chimaera; Brimstone and Issa and their gang, Karou's human best friend Zuzana and the cold, mysterious angel Akiva ... more perfectly crafted characters that contributed so much charm to this novel.
And the actual story? I have nothing bad to say whatsoever. I loved everything about it. The dealing of teeth, the different types of wishes and the teacups Brimstone kept full of them, Karou's sketches, the odd tattoos and the marionette show. It was all so eerie but so genius.
Overall, I thought Daughter of Smoke and Bone was so magnificently amazing. It awakened and pleased the magical, otherwordly reader inside of me with its vivid world and imaginative characters. This was one of the most beautiful books I've ever read and I definitely urge you all to give it a read.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of those
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books.From the first page with the first line, "Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well," I was instantly enraptured. Laini Taylor has a classic, graceful way about her writing, but not once did it feel overwhelming or over the top. The world that Taylor creates is simply alluring. Her descriptions of Prague and the world of the chimaera are so beautiful and easy to visualize, I just wanted to jump through the pages and see it for myself.
Karou has definitely earned a spot in my heart as one of my favorite female fictional characters. She's confident, kick-ass, even comical at times and the way she flits between worlds was so incredibly fascinating to me. She just seemed so real, written with the appropriate emotions and attitudes, that I had a hard time swallowing that she's just this character in this book. I also fell in love with the nearly all of the primary characters. The chimaera; Brimstone and Issa and their gang, Karou's human best friend Zuzana and the cold, mysterious angel Akiva ... more perfectly crafted characters that contributed so much charm to this novel.
And the actual story? I have nothing bad to say whatsoever. I loved everything about it. The dealing of teeth, the different types of wishes and the teacups Brimstone kept full of them, Karou's sketches, the odd tattoos and the marionette show. It was all so eerie but so genius.
Overall, I thought Daughter of Smoke and Bone was so magnificently amazing. It awakened and pleased the magical, otherwordly reader inside of me with its vivid world and imaginative characters. This was one of the most beautiful books I've ever read and I definitely urge you all to give it a read.
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Awards
Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction (Finalist — 2011)
Audie Award (Finalist — Fantasy — 2012)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Fiction — 2011)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 9-12 — 2013)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2014)
Gateway Readers Award (Nominee — 2014)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Fantasy — 2012)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2014)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2014)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2014)
Arkansas Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2015)
Blue Hen Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2013)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — High School — 2014)
Kids' Book Choice Awards (Finalist — 2012)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2014)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Oregon Spirit Book Award (Winner — Young Adult — 2011)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten — 2012)
CCBC Choices (2012)
Children's Favorites Awards (Finalist — 2012)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Teens (Fiction — 2011)
OYAN Book Rave (2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-09-27
ISBN
144472262X / 9781444722628
Local notes
Karou is a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; but also apprentice to a wishmonger: errand-girl to an inhuman creature who deals in wishes and is the closest thing she has to family. Her life is surrounded by mysteries she is desperate to unveil.
Delightful story and setting, and the mysteries keep you hooked.
Signed by Laini.
Delightful story and setting, and the mysteries keep you hooked.
Signed by Laini.