Ratings
Content Warning: Death, Blood, Violence, Language, Depression
Introduction
I originally bought this book because it took place in Prague, my favorite city in the world. And the book was in the fantasy section? I just HAD to buy it. To which my life has changed after reading such a captivating book.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the perfect blend of fantasy and modern-day fiction, but yet it falls in its own genre. Laini Taylor’s writing is lyrical and sweeps you off your feet. Her imagination for this book is breath-taking and everything I could have asked for. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next.
The world-building was beautifully done and I found myself wanting to learn more. I had so many questions and Taylor knew that. She holds the answers just out of reach until you’re begging for more.
Pros
- The characters
- The writing– lyrical and beautiful
- Strong plot with great foreshadowing and mystery
Cons
- No map
- The ending
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Plot
Boy you had no real idea where Taylor was going at first. She foreshadowed that something bad was going to happen, but damn, she didn’t hold back. It was gut wrenching and mesmerizing to read.
The end was heartbreaking and the best cliff-hanger ever. I cried at the end because the band of chimera– who were hardly shown in the book but talked about a lot– were so well developed and implemented into the story that I cared about them.
Characters
Gods, I love Karou and Zuzanna. Their banter and friendship is everything! It’s the kind of friendship I yearn to have. And let me just say, Zuzanna is a true ass friend. She was there for Karou through it all, and Karou is such a caring friend. She did not forget about Zuzanna and just wanted what was best for her.
Karou
Poor Karou has gone through it. I wish she saw the direct aftermath of Akiva telling her what had happened with Brimestone, but I imagine it wasn’t pretty. Karou is ruthless when she needs to be, but she doesn’t like it. She’s determined, heartbroken, and hopeful. My heart hurts for her and everything she is having to face now.
Zuzana
Oh, Zuzanna! She is the best side character ever written that she gets her own section away from said side characters. I love how mischievous and supportive she is. She respects Karou’s privacy and doesn’t pry.
Of course she asks Karou where she’s been and such, but if Karou is vague, she doesn’t really push. Zuzanna cares for Karou and values her friendship with her over anything else.
She doesn’t run with Karou spills the truth, she doesn’t take advantage of the money Karou left her. She’d rather have her friend than material things, even if they were what she wanted. Zuzanna is such a fun and humorous character. I wish I had a friend like her.
Akiva
Akiva. Man, he had me believing he would be the villain in the story and this was an enemy to lovers. Boy was I wrong! He is such a sweetheart and I want more of him and Karou.
Side Characters
Karou’s little chimera family is the sweetest! I adore their dynamic and her relationship with Brimstone. I hate we didn’t get to see more of them before the inevitable happened, but it felt like we had known them for a long time. Before the end, I was hoping to see more of them in the next book, but damn. Taylor just had to go in and ruin it in the most tragic way.
Kaz as a person is the worst. He got everything he deserved for treating Karou the way he did. I so wish he got peed on in the news interview. That would have been perfect!
Writing
Taylor’s writing is beautiful. The way she describes characters and their emotions is relatable and powerful in some instances. Taylor really has a way with words that portray exactly what she wants and impacts the reader in the same way. I can’t get enough of her lyrical yet humorous writing.
Final Thoughts
This series got me back into reading again. I was OBSESSED with this book. It opened my mind and heart to a new kind of fantasy. I want to find more books like hers, but I don’t know if I can. It touched such a special place in my soul.
What did you think of the book? Did you like it or could you have done without it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Check out the links below to see my “to-read” list, my spicy rating scale, the author’s website, and a chance to recommend a book for me.
Facebook Page | Goodreads TBR | Spicy Rating Scale | Laini Taylor’s Website
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